54 
the male, and its wings, when closed, did 
not reach within six inches of the end of the 
tail. It was more bulky at four months old 
(which he considers to be the term of the 
growth of these birds) than a capon. Dur- 
ing the first five or six weeks, these birds 
were of a greyish white ; the back, the neck, 
and the wings became gradually brown; 
the belly and the under part of the throat 
did not change so much, and were generally 
white or yellowish white, with longitudinal 
brown spots the first year, and transverse 
brown bars the following years. During 
the first year, the feathers under the throat 
of the male were mottled with a reddish co- 
lour; in other respects, the female very much 
resembled it. 
It was observed that, though the male was 
much smaller than the female, it was fiercer 
and more vicious. They were both difficult 
to tame ; they fought often, but rather with 
their claws than with their beaks, which 
they seldom employed but in tearing the 
birds or other small animals given them 
for food. 
This bird was held in great esteem in the 
