462 THE PEACOCK. 



Her plumage is like that of the male, from which she may be readily distinguished by the 

 smaller size of the wattle. 



THE large family of the Peacocks, or Pavoninge, now claims our attention. For con- 

 venience of description, these birds have been separated into several sub-families, which are 

 defined with tolerable certainty. Of the Pavoninse, we shall find two examples in the follow- 

 ing pages. 



The PEACOCK may safely be termed one of the most magnificent of the feathered tribe, 

 and may even lay a well-founded claim to the chief rank among birds in splendor of plumage 

 and effulgence of coloring. We are so familiar with the Peacock that we think little of its 

 real splendor ; but if one of these birds had been brought to Europe for the first time, it would 

 create a greater sensation than even the hippopotamus or the gorilla. 



The Peacock is an Asiatic bird, the s ordinary species being found chiefly in India, and the 

 Javanese Peacock in the country from which it derives its name. In some parts of India the 

 Peacock is extremely common, nocking together in bands of thirty or forty in number, cover- 

 ing the trees with their splendid plumage, and filling the air with their horridly dissonant 

 voices. Captain Williamson, in his "Oriental Field Sports," mentions that he has seen at 

 least twelve or fifteen hundred Peacocks within sight of the spot where he stood. 



These birds are great objects of sport, and are mostly killed by the gun, though a good 

 rider may sometimes run them down by fair chase. The Peacock takes some little preparation 

 to get on the wing, and if hard pressed is not able to rise into the air. The horseman then 

 strikes at the bird with his long lashed whip, so as to get the lash round its neck, and soon 

 masters the beautiful quarry. "Wrhen upon the wing," says Captain Williamson, "they fly 

 very heavy and strong, generally within an easy shot. It may reasonably be supposed that 

 they fall very heavy, but if only winged they soon recover, and if not closely pursued will, 

 nine times in ten, disappear. When the peepul berries, or figs, are in season, their flesh is 

 rather bitter ; but when they have fed a while among the corn-fields, they become remarkably 

 sweet and juicy. This is to be understood of the young birds, which make excellent roasters. 

 The older birds are sometimes put to the spit, but are by no means so good as when the 

 breasts are made into cutlets, and the residue boiled down into a rich soup. I have always 

 thought such Peacocks as frequented the mustard-fields after the pods were formed to be very 

 superior. 



"They abound chiefly in close wooded forests, particularly where there is an extent of long 

 grass for them to range in. They are very thirsty birds, and will only remain where they can 

 have access to water. Rhur plantations are their favorite shelter, being close above so as to 

 keep off the solar rays, and open at the bottom sufficiently to admit a free passage for the air. 

 If there be trees near such spots, the Peacocks may be seen mounting into them every evening 

 towards dark to roost ; and in which they generally continue till the sun rises, when they 

 descend to feed, and pass the midday in the heavy coverts. 



"They are very jealous of all quadrupeds, especially of dogs ; no doubt from finding the 

 jackal, and probably the tiger, to be such inveterate enemies. When Peacocks are discovered 

 in a tree, situated on a plain, if a dog be loose and hunt near it, the bird will rarely move 

 from it, though it will probably show extreme uneasiness. 



" But the most certain mode of killing one or two birds is by stealing under the trees at 

 night ; if there be a clear moon, so much the better. In this way, by looking up among the 

 foliage, the Peacocks may be readily distinguished. When they are very numerous, and only 

 one bird is wanted, as certain a mode as any is to lie in wait behind a bush near their feeding 

 haunts ; but without the most perfect silence this will not succeed. 



" Though Pea-fowls invariably roost in trees, yet they make their nests on the ground, 

 and ordinarily on a bank raised above the common level, where in some sufficient bush they 

 collect leaves, small sticks, etc., and sit very close. I have on several occasions seen them in 

 their nests, but as I refrained from disturbing them, they did not offer to move, though they 

 could not fail to know that they were discovered. They usually sit on about a dozen or fifteen 

 eggs. They are generally hatched about the beginning of November ; and from January to 



