PHEASANT. 181 



which those of our Poultry bear great part, though in general less 

 esteemed than those of the Goose Kind, which being more elastic 

 and light, are more suitable to the purpose. 



We have not been informed of the utmost limit of years to which 

 the Common Poultry arrives. We learn, that a Cock was living, 

 and in the possession of Mr. W. Williams, of Fronddu, Cemlyn, 

 Anglesea, which had attained to the extraordinary age of half a 

 century :$ but we believe that the Common Cock rarely exceeds 25 

 years, and perhaps, for the most part, may be called aged at 15. 



The use of Fowls of every kind for food is, we believe, common 

 throughout Europe ; but we are informed that they were not eaten 

 by the Ancient Britons, f 



6.— SONNERAT'S WILD COCK. 



Phasianus Gallus, Ind. Orn.u. 625. Gm. Lin. i. 737. 



Gallus Sonneratii, Coq et Poule Sonnerat, Temm. Pig. fy Gall. 8vo. ii. 246. Id. PL 



Anat. ii. f. 1. 2. 

 Coq sauvage, Son. Voy. Ind. ii. 153. pi. 94. — male. Id. 160. pi. 95. — female. 

 Wild Cock, Gen. Syn. iv. 698. Zool. Misc. pi. 61. 



LENGTH two feet four inches. Bill one inch and a quarter, 

 the body one-third less than in the Domesticated Species ; the comb 

 large, dentated, and of a bright red ; the wattles as in the Common 

 Cock ; the sides of the head, and a longitudinal line between the 

 crest and eye, naked ; all these bare parts are flesh-coloured ; behind 

 the eye a pearl-coloured spot, in size and shape like the little finger 

 nail, composed of very short feathers; the feathers of the head and 

 neck are long and narrow, longer as they proceed downwards ; the 

 webs equal on both sides, the shafts broad, and so visible as to give 

 the idea of being striped down the middle; at the base the colour is 



* Hampshire Chronicle, June 30, 1817. f Archceol. iv. p. 419. 



