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Genus GALLUS, — Biusson. 
Modern ornithologists have properly separated 
the birds generally known under the title of Cocks, 
from the Pheasants, with which they were formerly 
united, and have restored to them Brisson’s more an- 
cient title of Gallus. Thus restricted, they are dis- 
tinguished from the pheasants, by the crown of the 
head being naked, and the skin being raised into a 
fleshy elongation, called the comb, assuming different 
forms in different species, and by the base of the 
lower mandibles having fleshy lobes or wattles, by 
the tail being generally carried erect, composed of 
two planes folded together at a sharp angle, and 
in the males having the centre feathers elongated, 
and falling gracefully over the others. The feathers 
of the neck, and lower part of the back and tail-co- 
verts, assume a particular form, and are either long and 
hackled or truncated ; in either state they are very 
amply supplied. They aie all natives of India and 
her islands, frequenting the forest and jungle. They 
are polygamous, and very pugnacious regarding their 
females, proclaiming their victory and prowess with 
a loud and piercing voice. The plumage of the 
males is brilliant, of the female dull and unobtrusive, 
and there is often a considerable disparity in size. 
