2G2 BLACK COCK. Clafs II. 



that time they inhabit the woods : they are very 

 quarrelfome, and will fight together like game cocks; 

 and at that time are fo inattentive to their own fafety, 

 that it has often happened that two or three have 

 been killed at one fliot. 

 Pefcr. An old black cock will weigh near four pounds ; 

 its length is one foot ten inches ; its breadth two 

 feet nine : the bill is dufky : the plumage of the 

 whole body black, gloffed over the neck and rump 

 with a (hining blue. The coverts of the wings are of 

 a dufl<:y brown : the four firll quil feathers are black ; 

 the next white at the bottom •, the lower half of the 

 fecondary feathers white, and the tips are of the fame 

 color : the inner coverts of the wings white : the 

 thighs and legs are covered with dark brown feathers i 

 on the former are fome white fpots : the toes refem- 

 ble thofe of the former fpecies. The tail confifts of 

 fixteen black feathers, and is much forked ; the ex- 

 terior feathers bend greatly outwards, and their ends 

 feem as if cut off. The feathers under the tail and 

 inner coverts of the wings are of a pure white. 



The female weighs only two pounds ; its length is 

 one foot fix inches •, its breadth two feet fix. The 

 head, neck and bread are marked with alternate bars 

 of dull i-ed and black. The back, coverts of the 

 wings and tall are of the fame colors, but the red is 

 deeper : the inner webs of the quil feathers are mot- 

 tled with black and white : the inner coverts of the 

 wings are white ; and in both fexes form a white 

 fpot on the fhoulder. The tail is fiightly forked ; it 

 confifts of eighteen feathers variegated with red and 

 black. The feathers under the tail are white, marked 



with 



