Pea- 

 cocks Happening to make a visit to my neighbour's 

 peacocks, I could not help observing, that the trains 

 of those magnificent birds appear by no means to be 

 their tails, those long feathers growing all up their backs. A range 

 of short, brown, stiff feathers, about six inches long, is the real 

 tail, and serves as the fulcrum to prop the train, which is long and 

 top-heavy, when set on end. When the train is up, nothing appears 

 of the bird but its head and neck ; but this would not be the case 

 were those long feathers fixed only in the rump, as may be seen by 

 the turkey-cock when in a strutting attitude. 



By a strong, muscular vibration these birds can make the shafts 

 of their long feathers clatter like the swords of a sword-dancer ; 

 they then trample very quick with their feet, and run backwards 

 towards the females. G. W. 



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