THE CHINESE PEACOCK PllEASAXT. 



The peacocks, properly so called, are valued, iu all countries where they are known, for 

 their beauty. Thus, they are great favourites in Persia, and are more common there 

 than in England as an ornament in grounds and gardens. The King of Persia has a 

 throne «]uch is called " the throne o'f the peacock," from two representations of peacocks, 

 which are placed on square pillars on each side of the seat. . These sculptured birds are 

 studded with precious stones, and each of them holds a large ruby in its beak. In China, 

 beautiful fire-screens, and other ornamental articles, are made of peacocks' feathers, 

 tastefully arranged, and mounted on ivory liandles. ilany Hindoo temples in the 

 Dukhun have considerable flocks of peacocks. On comparison with the bird domesticated 

 in Europe, the latter is found, both male and female, to be absolutely identical with the 

 wild bird of India. 



Solomon, doubtless, constituted the peacock one of tTie ornaments of his pleasure 

 gardens. It was introduced into ancient Greece at a date far anterior to the time of 

 Aristotle, who was born uearlj' four hundred years before the Christian era, that philo- 

 sopher speaking of it as well known. It is also mentioned by Aristophanes, the cele- 

 brated comic poet of Greece, whose birth preceded that of Aristotle. 



On the holders, if we may so speak, of the genus of peacocks, we find the bird of which 

 the above is an accurate representation. The name given to it by Edwards sufficiently 

 indicates its general character. This bird does not elevate its tail like the peacocks. 

 It has neither the large dorsal plumes, nor the plumes of the tail, with which the peacock 

 forms his wheel. Its tail is of a totally different form, not only from that of the peacock 

 and the pheasant, but from that of all the Gallinfc. It is formed of two ranges or tiers of 

 feathers, the upper range lying over the lower, which is the true tail. This bird differs 

 again from the pheasant by having a broad and rounded tail, the feathers of which are 

 not vaulted like those of the true pheasants ; and also in its cheeks, which are not 

 covered with a tissue of velvety red. The character of its having constantly several 

 spurs also removes it from the peacocks and pheasants. 



This beautiful form was raised to the rank of a genus bv M. Temminek. Cuvier 

 placed it among the peacocks properly so called ; but other species have since been 

 discovered, which, throwing further light on the modifications of form, well justify its 

 genuine separation. 



* Edw.ivds. Pol_\'plcctniiii Bioaloavaliim. — Teiuiii. niploctron. — Vicill. 



