The Mofcovian black Game-Cock and Hen.
Numb. XXIX, XXX.
T H I S Bird is as big as a Turkey ; the Cock from the Point of the
Bill to the End of the Tail was thirty two Inches long; the Hen
but twenty fix; Breadth, when the Wings were expanded, forty fix
Inches, the Hen no more than forty one. When it was pluckt and
gutted it weighed ten Pounds: its Bill was yellow and like the reft of
this Kind, an Inch and a half long, from the Tip to the Angles of
the Mouth; its Sides iharp and ftrong; its Tongue {harp and not
cloven; in the Palate is a Cavity impreffed equal to the Tongue; the
Irides of the Eyes of a hazel Colour; above the Eyes is a naked Skin
of a fcarlet Colour in the Place of Eye-Brows: the Legs on the forePart
are feathered down to the Foot or Rife of the Toes, but bare behind;
the Toes are joined together by a Membrane as far as the firft Joint,
they having a Border of Skin all along {landing.out a little and ferrate;
the Head and Neck black and grizzled with fmall Specks of white;
the Breaft dark sreen, fpotted and fpeckled with black and white; the
wing tow n , the Back a dusky brown; the Tail Black ! dre lower
Part of the Belly and Thighs dusky, mottled with white: The whole
Bird is fpotted and fpeckled with black and white.
The Hen is of a yellowiih brown and white, finely marked with black
Feathers having white Tips. Both the Cock and Hen have a large white
Spot on the fcapular Part of the Wing. Thefe Birds differ in their Colours
very much, either by Age, Place; or other Accidents. They are found
in the mountainous Parts of Mufcovy-, the Alps, and other Places.
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