THE PEACOCK — THE CRESTED PEACOCK. 231- 



As a coronal now came the Peacock (*°) along, 

 Stalking proudly, but uttered no note fit for song. 



ing out their food. In this country, however, these birds are 

 reared much better by the common hen than by their own spe- 

 cies. The chicken are so extremely sensible to cold, that ex- 

 posure to it on damp grass, or the ground, for a very short time, 

 often proves fatal to them. 



(+^) Order, Galling, (Linn.) Peacock, tlie Crested, the 

 Iris, the Thibet, the Japan. 



The genus Pavo, (Linn,) or Peacock, consists of seven 

 species, distinguished by a robust, convex bill ; head covered 

 with revolute feathers ; nostrils large ; feathers of the tail long, 

 broad, expansile, and covered with eye-like spots. The 

 chief are as follow : 



The Cristatus, or Crested-Peacock, is the species most com- . 

 monly seen in this country ; it consists of three varieties : one 

 with a compressed crest, spurs solitary ; — another having the 

 cheeks, tbroat, belly, and wing coverts, white j — another with 

 the body entirely white. The plumage and tail of this magni* 

 ftcent bird are adorned with rich and various colours, but the 

 most predominant is green of many different shades. It came 

 originally from India, where it is found, it is said, in vast flocks; 

 but it is now seen in all the temperate regions of Europe, and 

 in almost every part of the new world, and also in Africa. It 

 arrives at maturity the third year. In this climate the female 

 lays only four or five eggs, but, in warmer regions, twelve, and, 

 it is said, sometimes double this number. The time of incuba- 

 tion is from twenty-seven to thirty days. It lives to the age of 

 twenty years, or more. One cock is sufficient for three or four 

 hens. They are granivorous, like other domestic fowls, pre- 

 ferring barley. The young only are esteemed good eating. It 

 is not, however, a veiy desirable bird for the poultry yard, it 

 being very troublesome and mischievous. The cry which it 

 utters is one of the most harsh and disagreeable that can be 



