THE PEA-FOWL. 73 



Romans, our rude forefathers higbly esteemed 

 the peacock as a delicacy of the table ; after 

 being dressed, it was served up with the 

 plumes attached and expanded, and thus 

 swelled the pomp of the entertainment. Before 

 the peacock and the ladies did the knight in 

 the olden time utter his solemn -vow. 



The flesh of the young pea-fowl is still held 

 in estimation, but that of old birds is tough 

 and dry. 



The habits of the pea-fowl in a state of 

 domestication are well known ; it is fond of 

 wandering about, and is unfitted for the ordi- 

 nary poultry yard ; it delights to roam over 

 extensive lawns, and about parks, and shrub- 

 beries, walking along with stately steps, its 

 long plumes sweeping gracefully and con- 

 stituting a train of inimitable splendour. 

 Often it stops, and raising up its train expands 

 its radiant colours to the sun, and looks 

 proudly around, as if conscious of superlative 

 beauty. Who has not gazed with admiration 

 on the spectacle thus presented? who, con- 

 templating the bird thus adorned by the great 

 Creator, as if to delight the eyes of man, has 

 not been ready to exclaim, surely no monarch 

 c3 



