clotho cornuta

Plume \Plume\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Plumed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Pluming}.] [Cf. F. plumer to pluck, to strip, L. plumare to
   cover with feathers.]
   1. To pick and adjust the plumes or feathers of; to dress or
      prink.
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            Pluming her wings among the breezy bowers. --W.
                                                  Irving.
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   2. To strip of feathers; to pluck; to strip; to pillage;
      also, to peel. [Obs.] --Bacon. Dryden.
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   3. To adorn with feathers or plumes. "Farewell the plumed
      troop." --Shak.
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   4. To pride; to vaunt; to boast; -- used reflexively; as, he
      plumes himself on his skill. --South.
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   {Plumed adder} (Zool.), an African viper ({Vipera cornuta},
      syn. {Clotho cornuta}), having a plumelike structure over
      each eye. It is venomous, and is related to the African
      puff adder. Called also {horned viper} and {hornsman}.

   {Plumed partridge} (Zool.), the California mountain quail
      ({Oreortyx pictus}). See {Mountain quail}, under
      {Mountain}.
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Puff \Puff\, n. [Akin to G. & Sw. puff a blow, Dan. puf, D. pof;
   of imitative origin. Cf. {Buffet}.]
   1. A sudden and single emission of breath from the mouth;
      hence, any sudden or short blast of wind; a slight gust; a
      whiff. " To every puff of wind a slave." --Flatman.
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   2. Anything light and filled with air. Specifically:
      (a) A puffball.
      (b) kind of light pastry.
      (c) A utensil of the toilet for dusting the skin or hair
          with powder.
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   3. An exaggerated or empty expression of praise, especially
      one in a public journal.
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   {Puff adder}. (Zool.)
      (a) Any South African viper belonging to {Clotho} and
          allied genera. They are exceedingly venomous, and have
          the power of greatly distending their bodies when
          irritated. The common puff adder ({Vipera arietans},
          or {Clotho arietans}) is the largest species, becoming
          over four feet long. The plumed puff adder ({Clotho
          cornuta}) has a plumelike appendage over each eye.
      (b) A North American harmless snake ({Heterodon
          platyrrhinos}) which has the power of puffing up its
          body. Called also {hog-nose snake}, {flathead},
          {spreading adder}, and {blowing adder}.

   {Puff bird} (Zool.), any bird of the genus {Bucco}, or family
      {Bucconid[ae]}. They are small birds, usually with
      dull-colored and loose plumage, and have twelve tail
      feathers. See {Barbet}
      (b) .
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