148 THE PEACOCK. 



+*f the army of Alexander, who felt such admiration 

 *br it, as to order the infliction of a severe penalty 

 upon its destroyers. Hence it found its way to 

 Greece, and Rome, and Europe generally, and had 

 to perform its part in the luxurious entertainments 

 of the ancients, while it was thought worthy of De- 

 ing dedicated to the royal Juno, and of being hand- 

 ed down to posterity upon the coinage of the coun- 

 tries. At an early period of English history, when 

 the baronial entertainments were characterized by 

 grandeur and pompous ceremonies, approaching near- 

 ly to the magnificence of royalty, there was scarcely 

 any noble feast without " pecokkes," which were 

 stuffed with spices and sweet herbs, roasted and 

 served up whole, and covered, after dressing, with 

 the skin and feathers. In our own times, both the 

 young and the eggs are often seen at the tables of 

 the opulent. They are also reared as picturesque 

 accessaries for the park or lawn, in which they will 

 breed and rear their young without assistance, and 

 with a little attention only during winter. In 

 their native countries, superb dresses and shades are 

 made of the skins and train, and, adorned with pre- 

 cious stones, form a fitting accompaniment to the 

 magnificence and show of Eastern manners. 



Peacock-shooting is a favourite amusement in In- 

 dia, where, in some parts, they are extremely abun- 

 *^ant. " About the passes in the Jungletery district," 

 says Colonel Williamson, " I have seen such quan- 

 tities of pea-fowls as have absolutely surprised me. 



