452 



NEW ENGLAKD FARMER. 



Oct. 









ipj»^ 



THE PEACOCK. 



"Handsome is that Landsome does," Is an 

 old proverb that did not probably originate in 

 the Peacock family. With an outward beauty 

 to challenge admiration, they are said to be vi- 

 cious gluttons, relishing young chickens, ducks, 

 and goslings, full as well as grubs and worms. 

 Indeed thoy have been charged with having 

 "ihe plumage of an angel, the voice of a devil, 

 and the stomach of a thief." But they are 

 good-looking, therefore, 



'•How rich tlie pencockl what bright gloriee run 

 From plume to plume, and vary in the eun I 

 He prouoly spreads them to the golden ray, 

 Gives all his colors, and adorns the day ; 

 With confcious state the spacious round displays, 

 And slowly moves around, a waving hloze." 



This mo5t magnificent and beautiful of all 

 the feathered race, says Mr. Bement, is sup- 



posed to have been originally a native of In- 

 dia ; but they have long been introduced into 

 Europe and this country as ornaments to the 

 mansions of gentlemen farmers. Peacocks 

 are said to be at present found in a state of 

 freedom upon the islands of Java and Ceylon. 

 The earliest mention we can trace of the pea- 

 cock is in the Book of Job. The liistory of 

 King Solomoil is an evidence of the antiquity 

 of the peacock, and also the choice of the god- 

 dess Juno, who selected this for hi r favorite 

 bird, from its gorgeous and brilliant plumage 

 and majesty of demeanor. It is asserted by 

 the ancient writers that the first peacock was 

 honored with a public exhibition at Athens; 

 the rumor of the arrival spread all over Greece ; 

 from distant parts the rich and the noble took 



