44 FRESH WOODS. 



you ever watch a peacock as Wordsworth 

 describes him ? 



" The peacock in the broad ash tree 

 Aloft is roosted for the night, 



He who in proud prosperity 

 Of colours manifold and bright 

 Walked round affronting the daylight." 



This is fine, but it is poetical rather than 

 precise, and one of the oddest things I have 

 seen about a farm is a peacock going to roost. 

 Then does he present a most comical com- 

 bination of wounded pride, vanity, humilia- 

 tion, imbecility, and indecision. I think it is 

 just one of those occasions on which he hates 

 to be watched, or even looked at ; he seems 

 to know he is going to make a fool of him- 

 self. He is far too proud to take up his 

 lodging on the cold ground, or upon a gate, 

 upon the rafters or top of a shed ; nothing 

 less than a strong branch of some tall tree 

 for a roost will suit his dignity and self-im- 

 portance, and I fancy the great trial of his 

 life is that nightly ascent which he seems 

 bound to make, but always in dread of some 

 great disaster either to his neck or his pre- 

 cious tail. It is laughable to see him peck 

 round, as he gradually nears the tree, now 

 and again glancing up, then pecking round, 

 then making believe that he is going to start, 



