The SONNERAT JUNGLE FOWL, or KATAKOLI (_Gallus Sonnerati_), differs
from all its congeners in the construction of its neck-feathers, which
are long, slender, and rounded at their extremities, where the shaft
spreads out in such a manner as to form a round horny disc; it then
again contracts, and again expands into a second disc. The webs of these
feathers are dark grey; the shafts and lower discs pure white, and those
at the end bright reddish yellow; the long slender feathers on the mantle
are brownish black with light spots, and those of the smaller wing-covers
have a webless smooth shaft of a glossy reddish brown; the wing-feathers
are grey, with light shafts and edges, those at the exterior bordered
and shafted with red and yellow. Some of the quills are dull grey, with
light edges and shafts, the rest black, with a greenish lustre; the
sickle-shaped feathers of the upper tail-covers gleam with dark green,
those on the under side are blackish grey, such as cover the thighs
having a reddish or yellow tint at the centre and edges. The eye is light
brownish yellow, the comb red, and the beak yellowish grey. This species
is twenty-four inches long; the wing measures nine inches and a half, and
the tail about fifteen inches. The hen is almost of a uniform dark brown
on the mantle, the edges to the feathers being of so pale a tint as merely
to give the effect of light shading; the throat and gullet are white, the
rest of the under side light yellowish grey, bordered with black; the
primary quills are dark brown; the secondaries striped black and brown;
the tail-feathers blackish brown, spotted and marked with a still deeper
tint.
The Sonnerat Jungle Fowl, or Grey Jungle Fowl, as it is also sometimes
called, is found only in Southern India, spreading on the eastern coast
to a little north of the Godavery, in Central India to the Pachmarii, and
on the west to the Jajpeeple hills. It is found in great abundance on
the Malabar coast, especially in the most elevated portions, and ascends
to the summit of the Neilgherry Hills. It is also found in the Eastern
Ghauts, and in various isolated ranges in different parts of Southern
India.
"Like the Red Jungle Fowl," says Jerdon, "it affects bamboo jungles.
Early in the morning, throughout the Malabar coast, the bird may be found
feeding on the roads; and with dogs you are certain of getting several
shots, the birds perching at once on being put up by dogs. The hen lays
from February till May, generally producing from seven to ten eggs of a
pinky cream-colour. These are usually deposited under a bamboo clump.
The call of the Cock is very peculiar, being a broken and imperfect kind
of crow, quite unlike that of the Red Jungle Fowl, and quite impossible
to describe. When they are taken from the jungles they are also very
much wilder, and not so easily domesticated as that species; but cases
are known in which they have bred in confinement with hens of the common
breed."
* * * * *
The section _Phasianus_ of Brehm constitutes a numerous subdivision of the
_Phasianidæ_, generally recognisable by the elongate body, short neck, and
small head; the short, much-rounded wing has the fifth and sixth quills
longer than the rest; the tail (composed of from sixteen to eighteen
feathers, placed in lengths) is wedge-shaped, and either very long or of
moderate size; the slender bill is weak, much arched and hooked at its
extremity; the foot is of medium height, smooth and powerful--that of the
male is furnished with a spur. The plumage, which covers the entire body
except the cheeks and tarsi, is prolonged upon the head, and sometimes on
the nape into a crest and flowing collar; the brilliancy of its coloration
is, to a certain degree, inferior to that of the _Phasianidæ_, which we
have before described, but it is, nevertheless, striking and beautiful.
The female is smaller than her mate, owing to the unusual shortness of
her tail; she also differs in the fact that her plumage is sombre and but
little variegated.
All the various members of this group were originally natives of Asia,
where some species frequent mountain ranges, and never descend from a
certain altitude even during the most severe winters, whilst others prefer
low-lying districts; they, however, avoid the actual forest, and seek for
the shelter of brushwood, shrubs, or hedges, and from thence fly out to
search for food in the surrounding country. These birds are stationary in
their habits, and at most indulge in short expeditions not exceeding the
distance of a few miles from their native haunts.
* * * * *
The MACARTNEY PHEASANTS (_Euplocamus_) constitute a group possessing a
slender body, short neck, small head, short wing, and moderate-sized tail,
composed of sixteen feathers. The bill is moderate, the tarsus high, and
in the male armed with a spur. The feathers on the neck and rump are not
much prolonged, and the former are more or less ragged at their tips;
those of the tail are placed in gradations, the centre ones curving both
downwards and outwards. The head is decorated with a delicate crest; the
cheeks are bare, and covered with a soft velvety skin, which swells to
such a size during the period of incubation as to form a comb and short
lappets. The plumage of these birds is more remarkable for its brilliant
lustre than for the variety of its hues. The female and young differ
considerably from the adult male in their appearance.