PHASIANIDJi]. 363 



tlie mountainous parts of Nortliern India does not 

 hurt tliem. The male is three years old before he 

 Mttains his full plumage. Their nest is formed 

 amongst the thickest shrubs^ or on high garden 

 walls or roofs. When the young are bred in an 

 elevated situation, they are said to be carried down 

 to the ground by the parent on her back. 



The type of the race, — 



The Common Peacock {Pavo cristatus), is perhaps 

 adorned with a more gorgeous plumage than any other 

 bird. Nearly all his feathers exhibit more or less metallic 

 histre ; his head is crowned with an elegant tuft of slender 

 stems, each supporting at its extremity a small brilliant 

 palette ; his neck. and breast are of the deepest metallic 

 blue, with surface tints of golden green ; and his tail- 

 coverts, enormously elongated, form a most magnihcent 

 train, adorned with hundreds of splendid eye-like spots. 

 His general form also is exceedingly elegant ; and when 

 he elevates and spreads his gorgeous train to the sun, 

 displaying it in every way, as if conscious of the admira- 

 tion he is excitmg, the beholder is constrained to admit 

 that there is no creature upon which Nature has lavished 

 her powers of adornment with a more unsparing hand. 

 The voice of the Peacock is exceedingly harsh and dis- 

 cordant, closely resembling the word paon, which is its 

 French name. The colours of the female, or Peahen, are 

 plain and unobtrusive, and in her the train is wanting. 

 The introduction of this bird into Europe is ascribed to 

 Alexander the Great, but the date at which it was first 

 brought to this country is unknown. Peacocks formed 

 a favourite dish amongst the Romans, and also found a 

 place in the feasts of the middle ages, when they were 

 served up with great pomp. 



