T H E PLATE conveys, I believe, a very excellent general idea of
both sexes of the species, but the legs are totally wrongly
coloured, and the bills are not right. 0
ONLY FOUR species of Jungle-Fowl arc at present admitted, the
three above dealt with and Gallus varius of Java* and other islands,
but I think it probable that Gallus adieus of Sumatra,
and perhaps one or two others at present degraded under the
appellation of hybrids may prove to be good species.
Our three species all have a serrated comb and two lateral
wattles, whereas varius has an entire comb, no side wattles, but
the gular skin largely centrally developed.
Much, as previously remarked, has been written as to the
origin of the various races of domestic fowls, but considering
that wc do not yet really know how many or what wild species
there are, and that fowls have probably been under domestication
for between 4,000 and 5.000 years, I do not think, as already
hinted on other grounds, that much profit is to be gained from
the discussion.
* Mr. Whampoa, at Singapore, showed Davison a very fine living male of this
species, presented to him by the Maharajah of Johore, who assured him that it had
been captured 111 his own territories.