217 
COCK OF THE PLAINS. 
JS?s ; at the very tip of the tail-feathers, the middle 
./fPted, appears a very small whitish spot, the two 
pairs being rather broadly yellowish white, dotted 
blackish on that part j the tail is composed ot 
j l ‘oty feathers, the highest number ever met with m 
tribe of birds. Although it appears strongly 
.r'eiform owin'* to the remarkable shape and curve of 
7® feathers, it is, “when expanded and properly examined, 
Stag more than much rounded ; the two in the middle, 
are the longest, reaching but a trifle beyond the 
r 1 Join i u ,,. 1V nd so on in succession, the difference in 
?>h increasing progressively, hut very gradually at 
, -t. and more and more as they are distant from the 
7%e, there beiw nearly an inch differenee hetween 
^ 'third and second, and full that between the second 
f 1 the outer, which is only six inches long, while 
„ " middle is ten. All the twenty are narrow, tapering, 
>fe, and falciform, turning inward. Those toward 
7 middle are less curved, but more conspicuously 
U rinate and narrow for nearly two inches, all but 
middle ones being slightly square at their narrow 
u l>s. 
jJ'hnugh we have reason to believe that the specimen 
n*°tibcd is a female, yet, from the broad patch upon 
belly, and other marks unnecessary to he specified, 
i, should not he surprised at its being a young male 
‘ beginnino- to change. In that case, and supposing 
> to have attained his full growth, this species would 
, r ° Ve to he inferior in size to the cock of the woods, as 
:s male would only he equal to the female of the latter. 
