224 CLASS AYES. 



day on the borders of woods. Their nature is wild ; they are 

 attentive to conceal themselves on the least indication of 

 danger, and it is very difficult to approach for the purpose 

 of killing them. They are not easily tamed, and are not kept 

 in general in a domesticated state. The male, however, is 

 said to produce with the domestic hen. 



The Rumpless or Persian CocTc, {G. Ecaudatus,) a 

 variety by Latham, is a species with Temminck. It has 

 given rise to many exaggerated stories. 



In the Philosophical Transactions for 1693 we read, that 

 the cocks of Virginia are rumpless; it was affirmed that 

 these, transported from England to Virginia, lost their tails — 

 an assertion which appears to be totally destitute of truth. 

 Buffon however, took up the story, and concluded that this 

 species was native to ^'^irginia. 



This opinion is now positively known to be utterly erro- 

 neous ; the rumpless cock is not a native of the new world, 

 for this primitive species, as it undoubtedly is, inhabits the 

 immense forests of the island of Ceylon. The hen constructs 

 her nest upon the ground ; it is rudely interlaced with fine 

 plants, and resembles the nests of partridges. The natural 

 disposition of this bird is wild, and the cock frequently 

 crows, but less sonorously than ours, though the cadence is 

 similar. The Cingalese call this species Wallikikili, (cock 

 of the woods). 



The distinctive character of this species consists in the 

 absence of the last dorsal vertebra, which supports that car- 

 nosity named rump ; the want of this vertebra is the natural 

 cause that the cocks and hens of this species have no caudal 

 quills or coverts, which in other birds are implanted in this 

 .part; it is also distinguished by a rounded crest, without 

 \emarginations. There are wattles, like as in our cock, from 

 Ihe base of the lower mandible. The featliers of the neck 

 \re long and slender, with disunited and silky barbs. 



