mi H I -Ail-M^WL
Gallus ferrugineus, Qmelln.
Vernacular Names.—[Jungli moorghi, Bun moorghi, Upper India; Bunkokra,
Bunkukra, Bun-kookoor, (Bengali, &c), Sundarbans, Sonthal Country, Assam,
&c. ; Natsu-pia (Bhutia), Pazok-tchi (Lepcha), Sikhim, Du&rs ; Beer-seem
(Koles) ; Gera-gogor (Gonds) j Lall, C/idnda District; Tanquet, Tanghet,
Burmak ; Ayam-oolan, Malay Peninsula; ]
HE Red Jungle-Fowl is, as the latter portion of its
name imports, a true denizen of the jungle, and most
especially of jungle in the vicinity of scattered cultivation,
at or near the bases of hills, which keep it
comparatively well watered throughout the year.
It is entirely wanting in the dry, level, alluvial
plains and semi-deserts of Upper India, and even in
better watered localities is absent from the more richly cultivated
tracts, and only straggles into cultivation which is in the
neighbourhood of jungle.
It is more or less abundant throughout the lower ranges of
the Himalayas,* the Dhuns, Tarais, and submontane districts,
and the Siwaliks from the southern outer ranges of Kashmir
to the extreme head of the Assam Valley beyond Sadiya.
Throughout the whole of Assam, including the less elevated
portions of the Garo, Khasi and Naga Hills, Cachar and
Sylhet, the whole of Eastern Bengal, including the Sunderbans,
Arakan, Pegu and Tenasserim, it is in all suitable localities
common. Again, in all the hilly portions of Western Bengal, from
the Rajinehal hills, through Midnapore, and westward of this,
through the whole of Chota Nagpore, and the northern and
eastern portions of the Central Provinces, it is the only Jungle-
Fowl that is found. It is common along the Kymore range, and
extends northwards to the neighbourhood of Punnah and Chairkhari,
and southwards on to the Maikal or Amarkantak ranges.
Southwards and eastwards of these latter it occupies the
whole country north of the Godavari, Orissa, the Tributary
Mahals, Ganjam, Vizagapatam, and part of the Godavari District,
Joonagurh, Kareall, Nowagurh, Jeypore and other Feuda-
* It extends in places far into the interior of the hills along the valleys of rivers.
Thus Colonel Fisher writes :—"Last year, to my surprise, I came across several of
them in a low valley on the banks of the jVayar river in almost Central Garhwal,
and at a distance of some 30 or 40 miles from the foot of these hills !"