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THE 



COCK OF THE ROCKS, 



THOUGH of a uniform colour, isytt among the handfomeft of 

 America, becaufe his colour and plumage are beautiful. Eats 

 fruits, perhaps for want of grain. He refemblcs the cock, but differs by 

 the form < f his toes, which are united by a membrane j the firft and fe- 

 cond toes to the third articulation ; the fecond toe to the third, only to 

 the firft joint. His bill is comprefled on the fides toward the extremity; 

 tail fliort and fquare; as alfo feveral feathers of his wings. His principal 

 diftiniSlion is his creft, which is placed longitudinally on his head, in the 

 form of a femicircle. This creft is not fingle, but double, formed of 

 two planes inclined to each other, and meeting at the fummit. The male 

 is a beautiful red, the female brown. She has a creft, but lefs full, iefs 

 elevated, lefs rounded, and further advancing on the biil than the male's. 

 About the fize of a pigeon. The young male is brown, like the female; 

 becomes red by time. Inhabits deep chafms among rocks, and dark 

 caverns J fees and flies during day, but more and better by twilight. They 

 are very wild, can only be ftiot; and that after great patience. 

 Their flight rapid, but fhort : they fcratch the ground and beat their 

 wings like the cock, but do not crow j their only cry refembles the fyl- 

 lable ^(?. Wild among rocks, in a flight neft, made of dry wood, lay 

 two eggs, the fize of pigeon's. The males quit their caverns oftener than 

 the females, which are rarely feen. May be tamed. There is a variety 

 in Peru, which has a long tail j has black about his plumage j his creft 

 lels complete. Thefe might be thought the reprefentacives of our poul- 

 ,tFy in America ; but that there are others, which, though lefs, refemble 

 them clofer by the comb and tail, as well as general figure. 



T H E A G A M I 



INHABITS mountains and high woods, like the partridge, and 

 pheafant: is about two feet longs his biil refemblcs the cock kind; 

 his tail ftiort, not beyond the wings when ciofed, but ovcrQiot by the 



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