498 



A HISTORY OF 



to be seen. Their manner was to strip off 

 the skin ; and then preparing the body with 

 the warmest spices, they covered it up again 

 in its former skin; with all its plumage in full 

 display, and no way injured by the prepara- 

 tion. The bird thus prepared, was often 

 preserved for many years without corrupt- 

 ing ; and it is asserted of the peacock's flesh, 

 that it keeps longer unputrefied than that of 

 any other animal. To give a higher zest to 

 these entertainments, on weddings particu- 

 larly, they filled the bird's beak and throat 

 with cotton and camphire, which they set on 

 fire, to amuse and delight the company. I 

 do not know that the peacock is much used 

 at our entertainments at present, except now 

 and then at an alderman's dinner, or a com- 

 mon-council feast, when our citizens resolve 

 to be splendid ; and even then it is never 

 served with its cotton and camphire. 



Like other birds of the poultry kind, the 

 peacock feeds upon corn, but its chief pre- 

 dilection is for barley. But as it is a very 

 proud and fickle bird, there is scarcely any 

 food that it will not at times covet and pur- 

 sue. Insects and tender plants are often ea- 

 gerly sought at a time that it has a sufficien- 

 cy of its natural food provided more nearly. 

 In the indulgence of these capricious pur- 

 suits, walls cannot easily confine it ; it strips 

 the tops of houses of their tiles or thatch, it 

 lays waste the labours of the gardener, roots 

 up his choicest seeds, and nips his favourite 

 flowers in the bud. Thus its beauty but ill 

 recompenses for the mischief it occasions; 

 and many of the more homely looking fowls 

 are very deservedly preferred before it. 



Nor is the peacock less a debauchee in its 

 affections, than a glutton in its appetites. 

 He is still more salacious than even the cock; 

 and though not possessed of the same vigour, 



yet burns with more immoderate desire. He 

 requires five females at least to attend him ; 

 and if there be not a sufficient number, he 

 will even run upon and tread the sitting hen. 

 For this reason, the peahen endeavours, as 

 much as she can, to hide her nest from the 

 male, as he would otherwise disturb her sit- 

 ting, and break her eggs. 



The peahen seldom lays above five or six 

 eggs in this climate before she sits. Aristotle 

 describes her as laying twelve; and, it is 

 probable, in her native climate, she may be 

 thus prolific ; for it is certain, that in the fo- 

 rests where they breed naturally, they are 

 numerous beyond expression. This bird 

 lives about twenty years ; and not till its 

 third year has it that beautiful variegated 

 plumage that adorns its tail. 



" In the kingdom of Cambaya," says Taver- 

 ner, " near the city of Baroch, whole flocks 

 of them are seen in the fields. They are 

 very shy, however, and it is impossible to 

 come near them. They run off swifter than 

 the partridge; and hide themselves in the 

 thickets, where it is impossible to find them. 

 They perch by night upon trees; and the 

 fowler often approaches them at that season 

 with a kind of banner, on which a peacock 

 is painted to the life on either side. A light- 

 ed torch is fixed on the top of this decoy ; 

 and the peacock, when disturbed, flies to 

 what it takes for another, and is thus caught 

 in a noose, prepared for that purpose." 



There are varieties of this bird, some of 

 which are white, others crested : that which 

 is called the Peacock of Thibet, is the most 

 beautiful of the feathered creation, containing 

 in its plumage all the most vivid colours, red, 

 blue, yellow, and green, disposed in an al- 

 most artificial order, as if merely to please 

 the eye of the beholder. 



