HOUWINK'S EXPER. CONC. THE ORIGIN OF SOME DOMESTIC ANIMALS 233 
timely death and that it should so happen, that the only photo — a 
poor one too — which was made of it while alive, was taken when it was 
in eclipse-plumage e. g. had shed its hackles. 
Fortunately there is a short description by the junior author, made 
before the bird — litterally — lost its head. It says: 
„Ihe comb is fairly intermediate between that of bankiva and Sonne- 
vat. It slants towards the bill, in Sonnerat-fashion, and has, posteriorly 
a rather large free part, such as Sonnerat has. Its size however is nearer 
to that of bankiva. Between the bill and the large, free, almost square 
part, the comb has 5 teeth. The wattles are considerably larger than 
those of Sonnerat and approach in shape thosé-of bankiva.” 
„In many other respects also the animal was intermediate between 
Sonnerat and Bankiva. Hackles and saddle resemble in general shape 
those of Bankiva, but the former have genuine, but small waxy spots 
like those of Sonnerat, which in a rudimentary state also, are present 
on the wingcoverts, while no trace of them is found on the saddle- 
feathers.” 
The senior author has a distinct recollection that the hackles were 
considerably paler than those of bankiva, much more straw-colored 
and this recollection is confirmed by the feather-chart. This feather 
chart does not confirm the statement that there were genuine waxy- 
spots on the hackles, but the senior author knowns this to be correct 
as he examined them together with Dr. KUIPER. The only hackle- 
feather present on the feather chart has but a simili-waxy spot at the 
end e. g. a number of barbs closely approaching one another, but the 
original featherchart bore a note in the writing of the senior author, 
saying that this hackle should be replaced by one with a genuine waxy 
spot, which unfortunately, has not been done. The wingcovert of the 
featherchart has a genuine waxy spot. 
As to the parts, left after the dinner of the Putorius, the Sonnerat- 
character is very apparent in the white median stripe of the feathers 
_of the breast and belly, which in shape also are Sonnerat-like. The 
white median stripe however becomes, on the feathers of the belly 
especially, very narrow by extension of the black. 
The Sonnerat-cock has a zone of specialised feathers, a belt — we 
shall refer to it in future as to the Sonnerat-belt — between the breast 
and the belly. The feathers of this Sonnerat-belt are characterised by a 
brown tip and waxy brown spots; the hybrid shows the brown but not 
