42 FRESH WOODS. 



stoutly struts his dames before," makes a 

 louder botheration than ever, and boasts 

 that he was the conqueror, and all his young 

 cocks and hens believe him. 



* * >;< * 



" The matchless plumage of the peacock," 

 says Buffon, " seems to combine all that 

 delights the eye in the soft and delicate tints 

 of the finest flowers, all that dazzles it in 

 the sparkling lustre of gems, and all that 

 astonishes it in the grand display of the rain- 

 bow." 



These birds were originally brought from 

 India, and thence have been diffused over the 

 civilized world. We are told that King Solo- 

 mon imported them in ships from Tarshish, 

 which brought him " gold and silver, ivory, 

 and apes and peacocks." 



The peahen is destitute of those dazzling 

 beauties which adorn her lord. She lays five 

 or six eggs in some out-of-the-way, secret 

 place beyond the knowledge of her hus- 

 band, who has a mean habit of smashing 

 them. His doing this causes a domestic rup- 

 ture of many days, during which his fine 

 feathers and his coaxing, croaking entreaties 

 are displayed in vain. His wife treats him 

 with haughty disdain, and will not be seen in 

 his company. 



