298 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE. 



Sheba, and has been much affected in England in more 

 recent years, on account of its beauty, as an adornment of 

 English lawns, and as a royal dainty upon the festive board. 

 It may be said still to keep its place as an ornament of the 

 park, but it is no longer the choice of the epicure and seldom 

 appears at the feast. It is said to have come originally from 

 Persia and has doubtless reached the west from India where 

 it still abounds. Colonel Williamson says that he has seen, 

 in the passes of the Jungletery district, as many as twelve 

 or fifteen hundred pea-fowls of various sizes within sight of 

 one spot. " The gorgeous plumes that adorn the Peacock, " 

 says Mr. Wood, " do not compose the tail, as many suppose, 

 but are only the tail-coverts. The tail feathers themselves are 

 short and rigid, and serve to keep the train spread, as may 

 be seen when the bird walks about in all the majesty of his 

 expanded plumage. Although pea-fowl seek their food on 

 the ground, they invariably roost on some elevated situation, 

 such as a high branch, or the roof of a barn or haystack." 

 The peacock is swift of foot, but heavy on the wing, and 

 remains ordinarily on the ground, where it finds its food. It 

 has a harsh voice. The peahen is a plain, homely looking 

 bird, lacking the gorgeous tail which adorns her lord and 

 master. Guillim, an old writer quoted by Captain Brown, says: 

 " The Peacock is so proud, that when he erecteth his fan of 

 plumes, he admireth himself. He displayeth his plumes against 

 the rays of the sun, that they may glister the more gloriously : 

 and he loseth this beautiful train yearly with the fall of the 

 leaf; at which time he becometh bashful, and seeketh corners, 

 where he may be secret from the sight of men, until the spring of 

 the year, when his train beginneth to be renewed. And such 

 is the quality of many dames, who being painted and richly 

 attired, cannot keep within doors; but being undressed, and 

 in their own hue, they are loath any man should see them." 

 The There are several varieties of the Pheasant, of 



Pheasant, which the Peacock Pheasant of Burmah, the 



