140 
THE COCK OP THE PLAINS. 
Centroeercm ttrophaaian fw— Sw a in «>s . 
PLATE XVIL 
Cot'k of tbe Pliuii^/^PWonrfC/rtj-Ar^TclraoiirophstRiBiius. 
HonapdrtetCantin tialim, pl.xxi .rlieasant-tailed grawK?, 
WihmfJltust^o/ZooL plti. xxvL and xxviL-^entrocei-t^s 
iiroplmsiamia^ Nnrih. Zo&L li, p. 353, 
Tms splendid bird is the largest of the Amenean 
gi-ousft ; and, as far as beauty, ake, and rarity are 
roncemetl, beam tlie same rank la the American 
Fauna with the wood-grouse or cock of the wood of 
Europe. He h equally sought after by the hunts- 
man, and is even now as difficult to procure m that 
we Jjave just compared him to. But the form and 
habitft are quite distinct. In our once native bird the 
forno is retuarkably poweiful, the tail rounded and 
very ample, the habitation, the mof^t esclen^ive fo- 
rests, delighting io perch on the higbest trees. The 
bird of America iidiabits ordy the uncovered plains, 
never perches, and the form of the tail is lengthen- 
ed, the feathers narrowing to a point. Tins acquisi- 
tion to the gi'ouse was first noticed in the expedi- 
tion of Lewis and Clarb» who met with it near the 
fountain of the Miiisouri, in the heart of the llochy 
