GALLUS SONNERATI,

(Sonnerat’s J ungle-fowl.)

Coq sauvage des Indes, Sonn. Voy. Ind. ii. p. 153, pl. xciv. (1782),

Poule sauvage des Indes, id. t. c. p- 160, pl. xev. (1782).

Wild Cock, Lath. Gen. Synopsis, ii. pt. ii. p. 698 (1783).

Phasianus gallus, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 737. no. 1 (1788).—Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 625 (1790)

Gallus sonnerati, Temm. Pigeons et Gallin. iii. p- 659 (1815).—Id. Pl. Col. v. an 232, 233 (1825) G G
B. ii. p. 499 (1845).—Blyth, Ann. Nat. Hist. xx. p. 389 (1847).—Blyth, Cat. B. Mus AS By ‘ae
(1849).—Burgess, P.Z.S. 1855, p. 29.—Bp. Comptes Rend. 1856, p. 879.—Sace Rew as a de
Zool. 1862, p. 11, pl. ilii—Sclater, P. Z. 8. 1863, p. 122.—Gray, List Galline Brit. nich 39 (1863).

aor Birds of India, iii. p. 539 (1864).-—Elliot, Monogr. Phasianide, ii. pl. xxxiv. (1872).
Phasianus indicus, Leach, Zool. Mise. ii. p. 6, pl. 61 (1815).

 

AuruoueHu this bird has been known to science for so many years, our information respecting it cannot be
called extensive ; and the notes which Mr. Elliot published in his ‘Monograph’ still contain nearly the
whole of it. I therefore transcribe from his book the following observations :—“ This, the handsomest
of the Jungle-fowl, is found in the southern part of India; and by the singular spots upon the hackles,
as though yellow sealing-wax had been dropped upon them, it is easily distinguished from all the other
members of the genus. For a description of its habitat, as well as some interesting remarks on its mode
of living, I quote from Jerdon:—‘ This handsome Jungle-fowl is found in Southern India only, extending
on the east coast to a little north of Godavery, in Central India, to the Pachmarri or Mahadeo hills, north
of Nagpore, and on the west coast to the Rajpeehla hills, where it meets the Red Jungle-fowl. Its
occurrence on the Pachmarri hills is most probably its eastern extension from the Western Ghats and the
Rajpeehla hills; and it will probably be found all along the Sathpoora range. I do not know of its
occurrence east of the Mahadeo hills, till the neighbourhood of the lower part of the Godavery is reached.
It is very abundant on the Malabar coast, especially in the more elevated districts, as in the Wynaad, and it
ascends to the summit of the Neilgherries ; it is also common in suitable localities on the Eastern Ghats,
and in the various ranges in the south of India. It is not rare in the Naggery Hills, near Madras, and
is constantly brought for sale to the Madras market.

“<‘Like Gallus ferrugineus it is particularly partial to bamboo jungles. Early in the morning, through-
out the Malabar coast, the Wynaad, &c., Jungle-fowl may always be found feeding on the roads; and
with dogs you are certain of getting several shots on the roadside, the birds perching at once on being
put up by dogs. In some districts where they can be beaten out of the woods, and especially on the
Neilgherries, very pretty shooting is to be had at this Jungle-cock, the sharply defined woods (or sholas, as
they are called) being well adapted to being beaten for game. The hen lays from February to May,
generally having from seven to eight eggs of a pinky cream-colour, under a bamboo clump. ‘The call of
the cock is very peculiar, being a broken and imperfect kind of crow, quite unlike that of a Red Jungle-
cock, and impossible to describe.’ a

‘¢Mr. Blanford, in a communication to the Journal of the Asiatic Society upon the geographical distri-
bution of the Red and Sonnerat Jungle-fowls, says:—‘I regret very much having been the eee of
misleading Dr. Jerdon as to the distribution of the Red Jungle-fowl. I had been told by two different
observers that they had seen and shot Jungle-fowl, exactly like the common Barndoor-fowl, in and a s
Rajpihla hills; and a third had assured me that he had seen specimens of two different kinds from the
I have now been through the Rajpihla_ hills, and the ee Satpooras pace
thoroughly, and I am convinced that the only Jungle-fowl inhabiting those ranges 1s ee ee be
species is also found north of the Nerbudda, in the jungles east of Baroda, around Chota : ae v5 z
Meira? extends to the north and north-west I cannot say. It 1s not improbably (OO ea ae

: = he Satpoora hills, north of Kandesh,
Aruyelli range, and perhaps Mount Aboo. It occurs throughout t i tit in the jungles just east
and, indeed, throughout the Taptee valley. Further south I have recently shot 1t in a

; ar n Lieut. J. Forsyth
of Chanda. Jerdon mentions its occurrence at Pachmurri, where, Lee I learn a a ae
Lieut. Forsyth adds that the two kinds of Jungle-fowl meet on ple

same neighbourhood.

that G. ferrugineus also occurs.
° = 99?
at Pachmurri, and he has shot both there.