J . Wolf & J . Sm it d e l.e t.lith . M&NKanharb.irnp.
G A L L U S L A - F A Y E T T E I.
GALLUS LAFAYETTII.
LAFAYETTE’S JUNGLE-FOWL.
GALLUS LAFAYETTII, Less. Trait. Ornith. (1831) . p. 491. no. 3.—Bon. Comp.' Rend. (1866) p. 879.—Des Murs, Icon. Om. pl. 18— Blyth,
Anw & Mag. Nat. Hist. 2nd Ser. (1848) volfnJp. 456.—Tennent, Ceylon, vol. i. p. 174.
GALLUS STANLEY!, J. E. Gray, Ul. Ind. Zool/(ä832) vol. iii. pl. 43:-^Sclat. Proc. Zool. Soc. (1863) p. 122, sp. 2—Blyth, Ibis (1867), p. 155
& p. 307.—Layard, Airn. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (1853) vol. xi. p. 232, & (1854) vol. xiv. p. 62.—Gray, Hand-1. Birds, pt. ii.pi 261. no. 9617.
H ab. , C e y lo n .
T h is handsome species of Jungle-fowl is au inhabitant of the island o f Ceylon, and lias never to my knowledge been met with
anywhere upon the mainland. It perhaps is nearest allied, to G. ferrugineus, but differs from it as well as all the other species
by possessing a yellow comb with red edges; Sir Emerson Tennent.me t with this bird in Ceylon. He says,, “ it has never
yet bred _ or survived-long, in captivity, and no . living specimens have befen successfully transmitted to Europe. It abounds in
all parts of the island, but chiefly in the lower ranges of mountains ;; and one of the vivid memorials which are associated
with our journeys through the hills is its clear cry, which sounds, like a person .calling ‘ ‘ George Joyce.’ At early morning it
rises amidst mist .and dew, giving life. to the scenery that has scarcely yet been touched by , the sunlight." Mr. Layard, in his
article ¡published in the ‘ Annals and Magazine of Natural History,’ upon thè ornithology o f Ceylon,’ gives the best account of
this Jungle-fowl yet recorded; I produce it entire:— “ The Jungle-fowl is abundant tuKreDJ th e „uncultivated portions of Ceylon,
but particularly so in the northern and north-western provinces. It comes out to feed-morning and eyenipg,-upon the roads, cultivated
lands, or other open places. The cocks are generally seen alone, seldom in company with their hens, who, however, are always
in the neighbourhood, and keep together, even though their broods may be of very different ages. The cocks fight most desperately,
the combat frequently terminating in the death of one o f the engaged parties. As they not unfrequently mingle with the fowls of
the-lonely villages, they cross with the domestic breed, being more than; a match in courage for the plebeian dunghill cocks, and
armed with tremendous sharp spurs. The hen selects a decaying stump or thick bush for a nesting-place, and lays from six
to twelve eggs of a fine rich cream-colour,- finely • nibttled with reddish brown specks. Axis 1 in. 9 lines ; diam. 1 in. 4 lines.
The young, when just-hatched, resemble young chickens; and the old mother leads them to decaying prostrate trees, and scratches
for white ants, which they eagerly devour. They are hatched in June. In wet weather Jungle-fowl keep much- to thick trees,
sitting disconsolately, with drooping head and tail, among the branches ; they also roost in trees night, retiring to rest
early. I t is rarely that a bird can he flushed; b.ut when they dò fly, it is very much in the manner of the-'Pheasant ; they
run with incredible swiftness, and trust to their powers in this respect for safely. Their cry is a short crow, which resembles
the words ‘ George Joyce,’ sharply repeated.” In an earlier communication to the same journal, our author says :—“ We started
in the buggy for Vavonia Vlancolom, with our guns between our knees, and got in before dark, killing a Jungle-fowl en route.
These Jungle-fowl (Gallus ¿meatus') are singularly abundant all along this road«* I have frequently seen three or four broods
mingled together w i t i ^ u t one cock among them, who keeps his seraglio very much to himself, often, I understand, defending his
ladies a t the expense of his life. He is generally victorious yyhen the tame cock is the aggressor ; for his spurs are fearfully
sharp, as I can testify by painful experience. I once.saw a fight between a tame and a wild cock, which terminated most
ludicrously ; the owner of the tame bird ran in and requested the loan of my gun* to shoot the stranger. I asked him if he
could shoot, when he drew himself up with ‘ Sare, I qne soldier before :’ - of course . he had the gun directly, and, taking
a murderous aim from the window, he fired, knocked over his ojra bird and missed the Jungle-fowl. His mortified face I
never shall forget ; and’ his soliloquy over the body was almost as fine as Hamlet’s.”
Male.—Back of the head1 reddish ; neck covered with* long hackles, black in the centre, golden on the margins. Feathers on
upper part of hack black, in centre dark, red on the margins. Feathers of t|||; r u m p deep red a t base, with heart-shaped
termination deep metallic blue, .with purple reflections. Long slender feathers falling over the sides of rump, purplish black in
centre, deep red on the margins. Secondaries bluish black; primaries .brownisli black. Greater wing-coverts deep reddish
chestnut, with reddish brown centres. Underparts rich.glossy red, with deep chestnut in th è . centre of the feathers. Abdomen
and under tail-coverts black. Thighs black. Upper taihcoverts metallic blue, with green ; and purple reflections. Central tail-
feathers long and curving outwards, black, with blue reflections; the rest of the tail brownish black. Comb yellow, with red
edge. Naked skin of face, wattles, and throat red, this last separated from the red feathers of the breast by a line of metallic
blue feathers, sòme o f them margined with deep chestnut. Bill horn-colour ; legs and feet flesh-colour.
Female.—Head and. neck brown, upper part of neck brown, with black irregular lines on the outer portions of feathers,
centres yellow. Upper parts yellowish brown, finely vermiculàted with black. Primaries dark brown, secondaries dark buff, barred
irregularly with broad black lines. Upper part o f breast like the back, the feathers having a rather broad central streak of
yellowish. Feathers of nnderparts black a t the base, yellowish white on the tips. Tail reddish brown, mottled with black.
Bill dark brown, legs and feet flesh-colour.