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THE COCK OF THE ROCK. 
name, and the crown of the head is decorated with a beautiful series of gradually deepening 
plumes, of a golden yellow at the base of the bill and on the forehead, and warming into a 
rich ruddy orange towards the back of the neck, something like the crown of the fire-crested 
Eegulus. 
The largest and the most showy of all the Manakins is the Cock of the Eock, so termed 
on account of a slight external resemblance which it bears to the gallinaceous form. 
It is a native of Southern America and Gfuinea, and, as it is a solitary and extremely 
retiring bird, is but seldom seen except by those who go in special search of it. This bird is 
remarkable, not only for the bright orange-colored plumage with which its whole body is 
covered, but for its beautiful crest, which extends over the head like the plume of an ancient 
helmet. It generally frequents the banks of rocky streams and deep, sombre ravines, where 
it traverses the ground with much rapidity, by means of its powerful and well -developed legs. 
COCK OF THE ROCK . — Rupicola crocea. 
As it is a solitary and very wary bird, it is seldom shot by white men, the greater number of 
existing specimens having been procured by means of the poisoned arrow thrown through the 
deadly sumpitan, or blow-pipe, of the Macoushi Indians. As the skin commands a high price 
in the market, the Indians kill great numbers of the birds, and are gradually thinning their 
ranks. 
During the daytime the Cock of the Eock retires into its dark hiding-place among the 
rocks, and only comes out to feed before sunrise and just after sunset. Not only is it never 
found in company with other birds, but it does not even seem to associate with those of its own 
kind. The nest of this species is of a very slight description, and is composed of little sticks, 
splinters of wood, and dry grasses, laid loosely in a hole of some rock, and containing two 
white eggs. 
The color of the Cock of the Eock is remarkably beautiful, and consists of a rich orange 
tint, which dyes the whole of the plumage with the exception of the quill -feathers of the 
wings, which are of a sooty-black hue, and those of the tail, which are brown, tipped with 
