COCK OF THE PLAINS. 317 



measures two inches ; the toes are dusky black, and the pectinated row 

 of processes long, strong, and dingy whitish ; the nails blackish. The 

 whole base of the plumage, with the exception of that of the neck 

 beneath (which is white), is of a dusky gray. The tail is ten inches 

 long, and in color is, as well as its coverts, in harmony with the rest of 

 the plumage ; the ground color is blackish, and crossed or rather mottled 

 with bands of whitish spots disposed irregularly, between which are 

 small additional darker spots ; the two middle ones are mottled all over, 

 but the others are almost immaculate on their inner vane and at the 

 point ; hence the lower surface of the unexpanded tail is of a silvery 

 gray much darker than that of the wings ; at the very tip of the tail- 

 feathers, the middle excepted, appears a very small whitish spot, the 

 two outer pairs being rather broadly yellowish white, dotted" with 

 blackish on that part. The tail is composed of twenty feathers, the 

 highest number ever met with in any tribe of birds. Although it ap- 

 pears strongly cuneiform, owing to the remarkable shape and curve of 

 the feathers, it is when expanded and properly examined, nothing more 

 than much rounded, the two in the middle, which are the longest, 

 reaching but a trifle beyond the adjoining, and so on in succession, the 

 difference in length increasing progressively, but very gradually at first, 

 and more and more as they are distant from the centre, there being 

 nearly an inch difference between the third and second, and full that 

 between the second and the outer, which is only six inches long, while 

 the middle is ten. All the twenty are narrow, tapering, acute, and 

 falciform, turning inward. Those toward the middle are less curved, 

 but more conspicuously acuminate and narrow for nearly two inches, 

 all but the middle ones being slightly square at their narrow tips. 



Though we have reason to believe that the specimen described and 

 figured is a female, yet from the broad patch upon the belly, and other 

 marks unnecessary to be specified, we should not be surprised at its being 

 a young male just beginning to change. In that case, and supposing 

 him to have attained his full growth, this species would prove to be 

 inferior in size to the Cock of the Woods, as its male would only be 

 equal to the female of the latter. 



