40G THE FEATHERED TRIBES. 



numerous travellers who are worthy of implicit contideuce. The chase of the peacock is 

 well known to form one of the chief amusements in Bengal, and in the islands of Java and 

 Sumatra ; but this is a somewhat dangerous sport, as the proximity of the tiger in those 

 places where the peacocks most abound obliges the himter to use much cii'cumspection, for 

 this dreaded beast of prey shows a peculiar predilection for the flesh of these bii'ds. 



Colonel Williamson, iu his account of peacock shooting, states that he had seen, about 

 the passes of the Jimgletery district, siu'prising quantities of wild pea-fowls. Whole 

 woods were covered with their beautiful plimiage, to which the rising sim imparted 

 additional brilHaucy. Small patches of plain among the long grass, most of them 

 cultivated, and with mustard then in bloom, which induced the birds to feed, increased 

 the beauty of the scene. " I speak within bounds," continues the colonel, " when I 

 assert that there could not be less than twelve or fifteen hundred pea-fowls, of various 

 sizes, within sight of the spot where I stood for near an hour." 



According to the same authority, it is easy to get a shot in a jungle ; but when the 

 birds flocked together, which they do to the amoimt of forty or fifty, there was greater 

 difiiculty. Then they are not easily raised, and rim very fast, so fast, indeed, that the 

 colonel doubts whether a slow spaniel could make them take wing. They fly heavy and 

 strong, generally within an easy shot ; if winged only, they usually escape from their 

 swiftness of foot. They roost on high trees, into which they fly towards dusk. 



M. Temminck had an opportunity of examining two males of the wild peacock ; these 

 birds resembled each other perfectly, and were as familiar as the domestic peacocks. In 

 brUliancy of plumage the wUd peacock stands imri vailed among the feathered race. In 

 his incomparable robe we find united all the brilliant colours which we admire separately 

 in other birds, — aU that glistens iu the rainbow, and sparkles in the mine — the azure tints 

 of the sky, and the richest emei'ald of the fields. 



The wild peacock is almost the size of a hen-turkey. The length from the end of the 

 bill to the extremity of the tail is four feet five inches ; the tail alone is nineteen inches. 

 It is the richly assorted colours of the alar-coverts that constitute one of the principal 

 difl'erences between this bird and the domestic peacock. The wild pea-hen has but one 

 brood in the year ; she lays from twenty-five to thirty eggs, which slic deposits on tlie 

 ground in well sheltered places, where they are seciue from the assaults of tlie tiger. 



Well may it be said : — 



" Bird (if rclulgcnt tints, whose bounty fharnis 

 The eye of all beholders ! dazzling bright 

 Thy lovely plumage, spreading to the sun ; 

 Mcst striking of the livmg objcets knovii. 

 Who but a God eould wuigs construct like (hiiie? 

 Well might the jmtriareh .Tob His wisdom ])raiNe, 

 In this one jjroof of the Omnific hand ; 

 (iav'st Tliou, said he, the goodly peacock's wings?" 

 Take but one plume and scrutinise it well, 

 Look at the fragile, slender, tapering shaft, 

 Fringed as it is -with long loose silken barl)s. 

 Glittering in splendour with metallic light, 

 Now green, now golden, as if liquid fire. 

 The ocellated disc with wliich is tipped 

 The whole, what words can speak its varying hues ! 

 Its purple how intense, its emerald green, 

 Wliicli circles round this deep rich dye, 

 Who can imagine ? Or the broad expanse 

 (Jf choicest bronze, a ricli tlunigli soberer tint '' 

 And then, again, who shall attempt to jiaint 

 'Ibe nuirgins delicate of yellow green, 

 ' .lob XXXi. la. 



