262 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



1^ EACOCKS, in a wild state, tliougli now 

 rarelj found, are sometimes seen, 

 in large flocks, on the islands of 

 Java and Ceylon. When this bird was 

 first brought into Greece, many centuries 

 ago, the people prized it so highly, that a 

 sum equal to fifty dollars of our money was 

 paid for one peacock. When Alexander was 

 in India, he saw these birds flying wild, in 

 vast numbers, and was so struck with their 

 beauty, that he ordered those who killed or 

 disturbed one of the birds to be severely 

 punished; and in Greece, for some time after 

 the introduction of the bird into that coun- 

 try, a large price was paid for the privilege 

 of seeing it. 



The peacock is among the most beautifully 

 dressed birds in the world, and I am sorry to 



