'.i6 



THE BOOK OF POULTIiY. 



rawe yolkes of eggs ; and when he is rostecl 

 take hym off and let hym cole a whyle, and 

 take and sowe hym in his skynne, and gild 

 his combe, and so serve him forthe with the 

 last cours." According to the old play by 

 Massinger, called The City Madam, " The car- 

 cases of three fat wethers were bruised for 

 gravy to make sauce for a single peacock " ; 

 and it is plain enough that the royal bird was 

 the principal dish of the course. A young 

 pea fowl of either sex is, in fact, as delicious 

 eating as can possibly be. 



But it is on the lawn, in the park, or in 

 a public garden that the Peacock finds its 

 proper place and displays its full beauty. It 

 can be confined in wire pens like the Pheasant ; 

 but unless these are very large, and well 

 furnished with shrubbery, it seldom breeds 

 well in such confinement, though some restric- 

 tion is advisable at first, while domesticating 

 birds in a new home. They do best where 

 they can make their own nests in a shrub- 

 bery, or piece of long grass left for them, and 

 can roost in the trees. When settled down they 

 will range round the house, but generally stay 

 near it, and if regularly fed become very tame, 

 tapping at the window and calling if their 

 morning feed is delayed. Where not regularly 

 fed, they wander much farther, and may get 

 lost. When full grown, they may have mash 

 in the morning and corn at night, like other 

 poultry, but practically will eat anything that 

 is at all eat'able. They are long-lived, and 

 have been recorded as reaching the age of 

 thirty years. 



The wild bird is polygamous, and should 

 not have less than three hens, if possible, up 

 to as many as six being quite permissible. 

 They are spiteful and quarrelsome among other 

 poultry, and the cock will sometimes not only 

 kill, but eat, newly hatched chicks, if he has 

 the opportunity. Some cocks have been known 

 to attack children ; but this is very unusual, 

 and they usually are very tame as regards 

 human beings. They are not of full age, as 

 regards either size, or plumage, or fitness for 

 breeding, till two years old, and should not 

 be mated before. The hen may begin to lay 

 in March, or more probably April, and is the 

 best mother for her own chicks, as she goes 



all the rest of the year with them, and they 

 need this long protection ; on this account it 

 does not answer to set the eggs under hens, 

 which leave them before they can bear it. 

 The number of eggs usually laid is eight or 

 ten, sometimes more. The nest of a hen should 

 never be disturbed, but when she leaves it — 

 which she usually proclaims by a shrill cry — 

 food and water should be given promptly. 

 The period of incubation varies from twenty- 

 eight to thirty days. The young chicks are 

 delicate as regards wet and wind, but should 

 be allowed to run about on dry soil, and be 

 given, if possible, some ants' eggs, worms, or 

 other live animal food, besides Spratt and oat- 

 meal mi.xed with milk. They will soon come 

 on to grain of different kinds, and be reared 

 afterwards with little trouble. On damp soil 

 they should not be attempted. The hen will 

 take care of them till about February, when 

 she beats them off at pairing time. 



Pea fowl moult fast, and the cock especially 

 seems to droop more than other poultry, owing 

 no doubt to the immense amount of "feather 

 which he has to renew. The birds at this 

 time seek the deepest seclusion they can find, 

 and should be allowed it, providing nourishing 

 diet for them in proper places. If all goes 

 well, the moult is soon over, and they are 

 all right again. The male's plumes do not 

 reach their full size and beauty till the third 

 season. 



Within the last few years there has been a 

 rather curious demand for Peacock feathers to 

 be sold for use (or abuse) as " ticklers " during 

 crowded rejoicings. The object cannot be com- 

 mended, and, indeed, it is to be hoped may be 

 hindered by the police ; but this odd and novel 

 market has had the effect of perceptibly 

 developing Peacock breeding in France in 

 order to supply it. Some of this has been 

 carried on upon ordinary lines ; but we are 

 informed that several breeders have kept the 

 birds in large pens to produce the eggs, which 

 are hatched in incubators, and the chicks reared 

 artificially. By artificial brooders the con- 

 tinued shelter which hens fail to afford can 

 be given to the chicks ; and, so far as the 

 method has been carried, it is stated to answer 

 very well. 



