Marvels of the Universe S11 
TMEUS, COGEK OW Wists, INOW 
REMARKABLE both for plumage and habits is this gorgeous inhabitant of the interior parts of South 
America. On the head is displayed a peculiarly compressed and rounded crest, and the whole body 
of the bird is coloured a beautiful yellow orange, which at times approaches a brilliant crimson, 
for the hue appears to vary 
according to the geographical 
distribution. The hinder parts 
of the wing are grey, while their 
margins and the tail-feathers 
are black. It is a solitary and 
shy bird, feeding before sun- 
rise and after sunset, and 
usually remaining in hiding 
throughout the day. Salmon 
has given us the following 
description of its breeding 
haunts: “I followed up a 
mountain stream where the 
gorge became gradually more 
enclosed till I arrived at the 
mouth of a cave with high 
rocks on each side and over- 
shadowed by high trees, into 
which the sun never pene- 
trated. All was wet and dark 
and silent. We had hardly 
become accustomed to the 
gloom when a nest was found, 
a dark bird stealing away from 
what appeared to be a lump of 
mud upon the face of the rock. 
This was the nest of the Cock 
of the Rock, containing two 
eggs; it was built upon a 
projecting piece, the body being 
made of mud or clay, then a 
few sticks, and the top lined 
Photo by] (A. 2. Smith. 
with green moss. It was about FOSSIL SEA MATS. 
five feet from the water. I did Formerly considered as small corals, these fossils are so abundant in certain 
not see the male bird, and, in- strata of the Tertiary period that the beds are known to geologists as the Coralline 
Crag. 
deed, I have rarely seen the male 
and female birds together, though I have seen both sexes in separate flocks.” The colour of the 
female is a dull olive-brown, and the eggs are a pale buff, marked with blotches of various sizes 
shading from red-brown to lilac. The Cock of the Rock has always attracted the attention of travellers 
from the peculiar dances which take place during the mating season. Only the male birds are per- 
formers, for the hens supply the interested audience. Here is Robert Schomburgk’s description ofa 
dance he witnessed ‘‘ The stage, if we may so call it, measured four to five feet in diameter ; every 
blade of grass had been removed and the ground was as smooth as if levelled by human hands. 
