Chai'. N1Y 



Gradation of Characters. 



431 



If we admit the principle of gradual evolution, there must 

 formerly have existed many species which presented every suc- 

 cessive step between the wonderfully elongated tail-coverts of 

 the peacock and the short tail-coverts of all ordinary birds ; and 

 again between the magnificent ocelli of the former, and the 

 simpler ocelli or mere coloured spots on other birds ; and so with 

 all the other characters of the peacock. Let us look to the allied 

 Gallinaceae for auy still-existing gradations. The species and 



Fig. 54. Feather of Peacock, about two-thirds of natural size, drawn ' y Mr. Ford. 

 The transparent zone is represented by the outermost white zone, confined to the 

 upper end of the disc. -> 



sub-species of Polyplectron inhabit countries adjacent to the 

 native land of the peacock ; and they so far resemble this bird 

 that they are sometimes called peacock-pheasants. I am also in- 

 formed by Mr. Bartlett that they resemble the peacock in their 

 voice and in some of their habits. During the spring the males, 

 as previously described, strut about before the comparatively 

 plain-coloured females, expanding and erecting their tail and 



