COCK OF THE PLAINS. 
213 
the beautiful series of North American grouse, in the 
same rank that the cock of the woods so justly claims 
among’ those of Europe and Asia. 
This fine bird, like its European analogue, seems to 
be restricted within certain bounds, and is probably no 
where numerous, owing to its bulk, limited powers of 
flight, and the eagerness with which it is pursued ; but 
chiefly to its polygamous habits, which are the cause of 
desperate combats between the males for the possession 
of the females. However long the period since it was 
first heard of in the accounts of hunters and travellers, 
no more was known than that there existed in the 
interior of America a very large species of grouse* 
called by the hunters of the west the prairie turkey. 
We have little to add, it is true, to what is known of 
its habits, but we have it in our power to say that we 
have seen it ; we can determine its place in the system ; 
and now give a faithful description of at least one 
sex. 
We have again to acknowledge ourselves indebted, 
no less to the industry and sagacity, than to the liberal 
views of Mr Leadbeater, for the present opportunity 
of representing this bird. His invaluable collection 
contains the only specimen known to be any where 
preserved. 
The name of cock of the plains was given by Lewis 
and Clark, and we have retained it, as being not 
only appropriate, but at the same time analogous to 
that of the large European species called cock of the 
woods. Similar reasons have influenced us in selecting 
the scientific name, which, though perhaps too long, 
and ill compounded, has nevertheless the advantage of 
combining analogy in meaning with the indication of 
a most remarkable characteristic of the bird. This 
species is in fact distinguished from all others of its 
genus, and especially from its European analogue, by 
its long tail, composed of twenty narrow, tapering, 
acute feathers ; thus evincing the fallacy of the character 
erroneously attributed to all the grouse, of having broad 
and rounded tail-feathers. It is a singular fact, that 
