162 
THE COCK OP THE PLAINS. 
Centrocercus uropJiasianus — Swainson. 
PLATE XVII. 
Cock of tbe Plains, Lewis and Clark ^I'etrao urophasianus, 
Bonaparte, Continuation, pi. xxi. — Pheasant-tailed grouse, 
Wilson, Illust. ofZool. pis. xxvi. and xxvii Centrocercus 
urophasianus. North. Zool. ii. p. 353. 
Tuts splendid bird is tbe largest of the American 
grouse ; and, as far as beauty, size, and rarity are 
roncerned, bears the same rank in the American 
Fauna with the wood-grouse or cock of the wood of 
Europe. He is equally sought after by the hunts- 
man, and is even now as difficult to procure as that 
we have just compared him to. But the form and 
habits are quite distinct. In our once native bird the 
form is remarkably powerful, tbe tail rounded and 
very ample, the habitation, tbe most extensive fo- 
rests, delighting to perch on the highest trees. The 
bird of America inhabits only the uncovered plains, 
never peiches, and the form of the tail is lengthen- 
ed, the feathers nan'owing to a point. This acquisi- 
tion to the grouse was first noticed in the expedi- 
tion of Lewis and Clark, who met with it near tbe 
fountain of the Missouri, in the heart of tbe Rocky 
