THE PEACOCK. 407 



And those all fi-inged witli countless waving tlncnds, 



Of colours varj-ing, jjurplc, green or bronze ? 



Say, who can copy these transeendant tints ? 



Art slu'inks from the atti'mpt, Natiu'c alone 



Has skill to manufacture dyes like these ! 



Vain man may call them the eft'cct of chance, - . 



But he who tluuks aright God's hand beholds !" 



If the empire of the feathered tribes were claimed by beauty, and not by power, the 

 peacock would be regarded by the multitude as the king of birds. The elegance of its 

 form, and the brilliancy of its plumage, are exceeded by none of the feathered race. Its 

 large size, imposing manner, firm tread, and noble figure ; the rich crest upon its head 

 adorned with the most brilliant colours ; its matchless plumage, appearing to combine 

 everything that can delight the eye — all unite to give it a peculiarlj^ distinguished place. 

 The Romans were well acquainted with this gorgeous bird. It was called " the bird of 

 Juno " by the poets, who feigned that mth the eyes of Argus she adorned its tail, and 

 thus bestudded it with gems — " et gemmis cmtdam steJlantibus impkt." 



The peacocks constitute the great ornament of menageries. During summer they are 

 fond of KA-ing in an extensive space, where they can choose elevated situations for 

 perching. But in winter it is necessary to place them under shelter against the 

 inclemency of the weather. The preferable habitation for them is one in which the}^ can 

 perch. The season of reproduction A'ith the peacocks commences at the end of March or 

 the beginning of April. There is an, interval of one day between the laying of each egg. 

 When they are taken away, according as they have been laid, the entire brood will 

 amount to eight or twelve. The eggs are of the bulk and form of goose-eggs, of a 

 fulvous white, with spots or points of a deeper hue. The pea-hens are not very assiduous 

 in hatching, and often quit their eggs to fly to some elevated place. The young pea- 

 chicks rarely foUow the mother to elevated situations until four weeks have elapsed. 

 About this time the aigrette begins to appear. 



Until the second year the male and female have the same plumage. In the third 

 year, the long dorsal plumes of the male begin to appear, and it is then that these birds 

 begin to whirl about the tail, and to coiu't the attention of the females. The pea-hen does 

 not begin to lay till the third year. From the small extent of the wings, it would ajjpear 

 that the flight of the peacocks must be low and heavy ; still they can make tolerably 

 long passages in the air. ^oHan extends their life to one hundi'ed years, an opinion to 

 which AViUughby assents ; but it does not continue more than a quarter of that space. 



" For a good many years," says Sir Robert Heron, "I have attended to the habits of 

 pea-fowl. I find the individuals to differ as much in temper as human beings. Some 

 are willing to take care of the young of others, whilst some have pursued and killed them, 

 and this whether they had a brood of their owii or not. Some cocks have assisted in the 

 care of young ones, whilst others have attacked them. An early hen has frequently 

 herself a brood the next year. Age makes no difference in the number of the brood. T 

 have had six from a hen a year old, and one from an old hen. The hens have frequently 

 a preference for a particular peacock. They were all so fond of an old pied cock, that 

 one j'ear, when he was confined in view, they were constantly assembled close to the 

 trellised walls of his prison, and woidd not suffer a japanned peacock to touch them. 

 On his being let out, the oldest of the hens instantly courted him. The next year he 

 was shut up in a stable, and the hens then all courted his rival ; for the advances of 

 these birds are always made by the female. 



"The japanned breed are, I believe, a variety originating in England. In Lord 

 Brownlow's numerous breed of common, white, and pied, the japanned suddenly, in my 

 memory, appeared amongst them. The same thing happened among Sir J. Treveljoi's 



