THE PHARISEE OF THE JUNGLE 131 



species which have already been domesticated. It is 

 strange that peacocks have not become popular pets. 

 Possibly this is owing to the absurd English superstition 

 which accounts peacocks' feathers " unlucky," whatever 

 that may mean. Perhaps it is due to the fact that the 

 bird has a penetrating voice, which is best described as 

 that of a very lusty cat. 



Unfortunately peafowl are prone to give the world 

 the benefit of their vocal music in the dead of night. 

 However, cats habitually do this, yet cats are popular 

 pets among certain classes of people. In Upper India 

 I have more than once been awakened when camping, 

 and thought that I heard the cries of some one in sore 

 distress, but found that I had only been disturbed by 

 the conversation of a couple of peacocks ! 



These birds, whatever they may have been doing 

 during the day, invariably roost in trees at night. In 

 localities where they abound, it is possible to distinguish, 

 before it has grown quite dark, great black things high 

 up among the leaves of tall, thick trees ; these are 

 roosting peafowl. When camping in inhospitable dis- 

 tricts, where one's dak and provisions arrived only at 

 irregular intervals, I have often been reduced to shooting 

 peafowl while roosting, and then literally smuggled my 

 victims into camp in order not to offend the suscepti- 

 bilities of the country folk ! 



Young peafowl make most excellent eating, quite as 

 good as Christmas turkey, but an old cock bird can give 

 points as regards toughness to any dak bungalow 

 murghi. In addition to grain, of which the birds are 

 especially fond, peafowl feed on young buds and shoots, 



