DANCERS 65 



severe punishment upon any one who dared to harm 

 it. The peacock's "plumage scintillates and flashes 

 so as to be inferior in its splendour only to those 

 colours that are kindled into life by the sun, and 

 which are reflected by the bird; while it surpasses 

 all its congeners in the glory of its sheen : the purple 

 robes of the glacier, the silver surface of the stream, 

 the blue mists of the distance, and the deep dark- 

 ness of heaven's dome above complete the magic 

 picture." Yet even this wonderful child of beauty 

 and grandeur finds it necessary to dance and pa- 

 rade his glory before the feminine sex in order to 

 win a mate ! 



During the mating season, he seeks the company 

 of several peahens, hoping that out of a number he 

 can win one for a bride. Gracefully and manfully 

 he faces the one of his choice, that he may display 

 his exquisite throat and breast as well as his tail. 

 If she appears unconcerned, he immediately as- 

 sumes other and varied poses, hoping thereby to 

 impress her with his grandeur. If this does not 

 succeed, he marches for her — a perfect soldier, with 

 the dignity and poise of an army officer. These 

 extraordinary attitudes are continued with occa- 

 sional light dance steps, until no bird could resist 

 such ardent wooing, and at last he is accepted as 

 a mate. 



