272 BIRDS. GALLING. 



P. cristatus, Lin. Crested or Common Peacock. Crest compressed, 

 body of the male golden green, glossed with brassy reflections 

 above ; wing-coverts green gold, with blue and brassy reflex- 

 ions, under parts of the body dusky, varied with green gold ; 

 head with two white stripes on each side ; upper tail-coverts very 

 long, with various colourings, and auriferous eyes or arches. 4 

 feet long. Inhabits India. Shaw. 



The Peacock is one of the most beautiful of birds. It is a native of India, but 

 has been domesticated in Europe for many ages. It is a proud and quarrelsome 

 bird, and utters a discordant scream. The female lays from five to six eggs, which 

 are hatched in from twenty-seven to thirty days. The young acquire their perfect plu- 

 mage in the third year. The food of the peacock is similar to that of the galli- 

 naceous birds. Aged females sometimes acquire the plumage of the male. The brains 

 of peacocks formed a dish in high estimation at the tables of the Roman epicures. 



P. muticus, Lin. The Japan Peacock. Body above green blue, with 

 a brassy gloss ; beneath ash-coloured, with black spots and white 

 stripes ; breast rich blue, glossed with green and gold ; upper 

 tail-coverts ocellated ; head with an erect spicated crest. Size of 

 the common peacock. Inhabits Japan. Shaw, xi. 148. 



Gen. %. GALLUS, Briss. Tern. Phasianus, Lin. 



Bill of medium size, strong, base naked ; upper mandible arch- 

 ed, convex, bent towards the point ; head surmounted by a 

 crest or plume ; ears naked ; three toes before, united to the 

 first joint ; the hind toe raised from the ground ; tarsus with a 

 long and bent spur ; middle feathers of the tail arched ; wings 

 short. 



G. Sonneratii, Tern. (P. gallus, Gmel.) The Jungle Cock. Comb 

 toothed, throat wattled beneath, feathers of the neck elongated, 

 spotted with white, black, and fulvous, with membranaceous tips ; 

 throat, breast, abdomen, and back, gray, striped with white; wing- 

 coverts reddish-chestnut ; quill and tail-feathers deep black. In- 

 habits India Shan), xi. pi. 12. 



G. domesticus, Tern. (P. gallus, Lin.) Domestic Cock. Comb den- 

 tated; throat wattled; feathers of the neck linear and elongated; 

 body variegated with beautiful colours ; tail compressed and ascend- 

 ing ; comb and wattles of the female less than those of the male. 

 Shaw, xi. 203. 



This is the origin of all the domestic varieties of this useful bird, and is supposed 

 to have come originally from Asia. It is spread over the whole world, and the vast 

 varieties in point of colour, comb, feet, feathers, &c. are an exemplification of the 

 power of domestication, food, and climate, in producing and continuing particular 

 breeds or races. The hen lays eggs for nearly the whole year, if properly fed, 

 and kept in a certain temperature. The young are hatched in about three weeks. 

 In domestication few of the race are allowed to live long ; but an instance is related 

 of a hen in Cumberland living for thirty years. For the seven previous years, how- 

 ever, she had given over laying eggs. The female in old age sometimes assumes the 

 plumage of the male. 



G.furcalus, Tern. The Fork-tailed Cock. Comb entire ; throat with 

 a wattle in the middle ; feathers of the neck short and rounded ; 

 body above green-gold, beneath black ; wing-coverts orange and 

 brown; female with comb or wattle. Java,. Shaw, xi. 215. 



