147 



GENUS PAVO LINN&US. 



'HIS form or genus is typical of the family witli 

 which we are now employed, and should most pro- 

 perly have been placed first. It is at once charac- 

 terized by the very great development of the upper 

 tail-coverts, or train, as they are called, which it is en- 

 abled to raise and spread in a circle by means of the 

 true tail, composed of strong and powerful feathers. 

 There are only two species known ; both inhabit 

 the Continent and Islands of India, and they present 

 a plumage certainly the most splendid among the 

 whole feathered world. Their frequency in our barn- 

 yards has accustomed us to this splendour ; but 

 when the question comes really to be asked, "Which 

 is the most splendid bird ?" we shall be able to find 

 no competitor ; there are many birds which have tints 

 more exquisite for their delicacy, or more dazzlingly 

 brilliant, but none present such a mass of gorgeous 

 adornment as the Peacock. 



The splendour of such a bird could not be seen 

 without attracting attention, and we accordingly find 

 it mentioned at a very early period. The earliest 

 notice of it will perhaps be found in the Bible ; it at- 

 tracted the notice of the mariners of Solomon, who, 

 in their southern expedition, among many other pro- 

 ductions of nature, carried these birds to their royai 

 master. We afterwards lose sight of it until discovered 



