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D. S. Newill—Grey and Bed Jungle-Fowl Hybrids



first moult. Certainly my little Scarlet Sunbird ( Sipa rajah ) has kept

his colour perfectly, thanks to access to an outdoor flight the whole

year round. He did not even require artificial light for feeding during

the long nights of winter.



GREY AND RED JUNGLE-FOWL HYBRIDS


By Dr. D. S. Newill


It may be of interest to readers of the Avicultural Magazine

to relate here my experience with a cross of the Gallus sonnerati cock

and the Gallus bankiva female.


After several years of persistent search for someone who could

procure for me and ship to this country a few specimens of the Wild

Grey Jungle Fowl ( Gallus sonnerati ), labelled by some naturalist as

the wild cock of the British sportsman of India, I finally secured a trio

of these birds through the courtesy of my good friend Mrs. A. K.

Ansell, former Secretary of the United Provinces Poultry Association,

stationed at Lucknow, India.


Relative to the May shipment I am in receipt of a letter received

August, 1931, which states: “ This species has become very rare.

I secured some but unfortunately most of them were received in a

most damaged condition and died, but I did secure a nice trio which

I dispatched to Calcutta to be sent on to you, but, unfortunately,

they were badly damaged on the train with all precautions taken.

One of them died and the two remaining were rendered lame and I had

to take them back. I will again put forth an effort to secure another

trio of the Grey Jungle Fowl and as soon as I get these birds I will

ship them on to you.”


On 1st May of this year I received a letter from the Secretary,

United Provinces Poultry Association, 1 Sultanpur Road, Lucknow,

India, dated 12th April, 1932, which reads as follows : “ Dear Sir,

I am in receipt of your letter of the 23rd of this month, 1932, and am

glad to inform you that before this letter reaches you, you will be in



