THEPEACOCK. 25 



fpread his tail if carefled, but if contemned, to clofe it. Is two years 

 coming to maturity. Has a fpur on each leg. 



Peacocks were brought from the Eaft-Indies: they are ftill found in 

 vaft flocks, wild, in the iflands of Java and Ceylon. 



The peacock's flefh keeps longer unputrefied than that of any other 

 animal; even feveral years. The peacock feeds on corn, prefers barley. 

 Is very proud and fickle ; every kind of food it will at times covet and 

 purfue j infedts and tender plants often. Though it flics heavily, walls 

 cannot eafily confine it; it ftrips the tops of houfesof their tiles or thatch, 

 lays wafl:e the labours of the gardener, roots up his choiceft feeds, and 

 nips his favourite flowers and buds. 



He requires five females at leafl j and if there be not a fufficient num- 

 ber, he will even force the fitting hen. For this reafon, the pea-hen en- 

 deavours to hide her neft. She fits twenty or thirty days. She lays five 

 or fix eggs in this climate before (he fits. Ariftotle fays twelve; and 

 probably, in her native climate, fhe may be more prolific : In India to 

 twenty or thirty. The young do not Ihew their tufts till they are a 

 month old: the cock does not acknowledge them till then, but drives 

 them off. Being troubled with infers, they fcratch each other on the head. 



There are varieties of this bird, fome of which are white; yet retaining 

 fome marks of the ^j^j on their tail-feathers, others crtftcd: that which 

 is called the peacock of Thibet, is the molt beautiful of the feathered 

 creation, containing in its plumage all the moft vivid colours, red, blue, 

 yellow, and green, difpofed in an almoft artificial order, to pleafc 

 the eye. 



THE HOCCOS 



AR E ftrangers to Europe, and belong only to the hot climates of 

 America. Their various names, as given by various tribes of In- 

 dians, have greatly augmented their fceming numbers; their real varie- 

 ties are confiderable. 



The hocco is nearly the fize of a turkey; diftinguilhed by a creft, 

 ufually black, fometimes black and white, two or three inches high, 

 reaching from the bafc of the bill to the back of the head ; thij the bird 



can 



