POULTKY. 261 



same treatment as those of the turkey, and equal care ; they require a 

 mixture of boiled vegetables, with curds, farinaceous food, as grits, barley- 

 meal, etc.; they should be induced to eat as often and as much as they 

 will. In a short time they begin to search for insects and their larvae; 

 and with a little addition to such fare as this, and what vegetable mat- 

 ters they pick up, will keep themselves in good game condition, with- 

 out cramming or overfeeding. For a week or two before being killed 

 for the table, they should have a liberal allowance of grain and meal. 



Guinea-fowls mate in pairs ; overlooking this circumstance frequenth 

 occasions disappointment in the broods. The period of incubation is 

 twenty-six days. Though they are not unprofitable birds, as they are 

 capable of procuring almost entirely their own living, they are rejected 

 by many on account both of their wandering habits, which give trouble, 

 and their disagreeable voice, resembling the noise of a wheel turning 

 on an ungreased axletree. 



THE PEA-FOWL. — A peacock in full feather, parading on a green 

 lawn, or from the extremity of a terrace-w^all, displaying the full length 

 of his gorgeous tail, is one of the most beautiful living additions to gar- 

 den landscape. But of fruit he will prove a devourer, not to be guarded 

 against, and both he and his mate are not unfrequently murderous 

 assassins of the young of other fowl. 



In domestication it is a rambling bird, unsuited to confined premises ; 

 it requires lawns, shrubberies, and wide pleasure-grounds, to which it is 

 an appropriate ornament, whether it moves about with its tail expanded, 

 or walks trailing it along down avenues of smooth turf, or amongst the 

 woodland glades. Semi-wild as the peacock is, it is disposed to become 

 familiar, and if encouraged will visit the windows of the house, in order 

 to receive an accustomed dole of bread, and when displaying its plumage 

 seems to be aware of the admiration it inspires. 



Grain of various kinds, mast, fruits, insects and their larvae, together 

 with small reptiles, constitute its food. It is not until the third year 

 that the male acquires his glorious plumage ; the aigrette on the head 

 in this species (but not in the Japan peafowl) is composed of miniature 

 plumes similar to those of the train. The tarsi are spurred, and when 

 irritated, the peacock can use them w'ith full eff"ect. 



For roosting, the peacock affects still higher branches than the tur- 

 key, and, failing these, the gable end of a house or barn, or some ele- 

 vated situation ; and here, through summer and winter will it take its 

 station, defying the rain and the cold. Strange that a bird originally 

 from India should be so hardy! It would seem as if Providence had 

 expressly given to the gallinaceous birds that quality of constitution 

 which fits them for accompanying man into regions far remote from 

 their natural habitat. Such is the case, indeed, with all animals essen- 

 tially subservient to his welfare ; and we cannot but see in this fact a 

 proof of the wisdom and goodness of that God who commanded man 

 " to replenish the earth and subdue it." 



Though the peafowl roosts in trees, the female incubates on the 

 ground, making in her natural state a rude, inartificial nest, in some 

 •ecluded spot, under cover of the dense jungle. The eggs vary in num- 

 ber from five to ten. This concealment, as in the instance of the tar- 



49 



