148 



TIIE GENESEE FARMER. 



THE PEACOCK. 



The most gorgeous, showy, and magnificent of 

 all the feathered tribe, is the peacock. No object 

 can be more beantiful — exhibiting in its phnnage 

 all the most vivid colors, blue, yellow, green, etc.. 

 disposed in almost artificial order, as if merely to 

 I}lease the eye of the beliolder. But however beau- 

 tiful may be the outward form of this gaudy bird, 

 its disposition is of a very ditferent character from 

 its plumage. It is said to "have the plumage of 

 an angel, the voice of a devil, and the stomach of 

 a thief." Although destructive in the garden, vin- 

 dictive and (quarrelsome among other poultry, with- 

 out either the merit of bravery or the energy of de- 

 fence — yet, after all, we like them : they make 

 such a beautiful show among the poultrj', and add 

 to the infinite and delightful variety of animated 

 creatures, with which a kind Providence lias blessed 

 our vision. Exclusive of the consideration of or- 

 nament to the mansion, the peacock is useful ft)r 

 the destruction of all kinds of reptiles; but at tlie 

 same time, some are said to be vicious, and apt to 

 destroy young chicks and ducklings, if suffered to 

 come within tlieir reach — on account of which, 

 they are discarded by many. 



On visiting cur poultry-yard on a bright, sunny 

 morning in March, we found several of the male 

 birds in "full glory," exhibiting their splendid 

 trains and showy attitudes. O ! a gay gallant is 

 the peacock, as he struts about with his mates in 

 ''.he morning sun, first one side, then the other ; 

 proud of liis small head, covered with a crest of 

 featliers; proud of his bright, beautiful coat; his 

 back and wings of a light ash color, mingled with 

 black ; liis head, neck and breast of a greeuish-blue, 

 with a gloss wliicli in the sunshine appeal's exceed- 

 ingly brilliant ; his eyes set between two stripes of 

 white; the feathers of his tail of a changeable 

 mixture of green, blue, purple and gold ; his sluirp 

 eyes looking about as if he courted praise, and felt 

 that he deserved it. Proudly indeed he moves 

 along, as though he were the king of birds ; proudly 



he extends that glittering train of his, brightly 

 jeweled, as it seems, in the glory of the sunshine — 

 all bright and gay, gleaming with its blue-black 

 disks and circles of gold. But he is only beautiful 

 to the eye. "When the train is up, nothing ap- 

 pears of the bird but its head and neck ; but this 

 would not be the case were those long feathers 

 fixed only in the rump, as may be seen by the tur- 

 key-cock when in training attitude. By a strong 

 muscular vibration, these birds can make the shafts 

 of their feathers clatter like the rattling of Vene- 

 tian blinds, when suddenly drawn up with the cord. 

 They then trample very quick with their feet, and 

 run backward toward the females. 



Pea-fowl, on the score of profit, are not worth 

 attention ; but they may be made useful to keep 

 watch, as they will roost on the top of a barn, or 

 any elevated place, and from it they will souud tho 

 alarm by issuing their loud and piercing cry on the 

 approach of awy stranger or enemy, taking the 

 place of the watch-dog. We have found them 

 tolerable good barometers, giving notice, by their 

 lousl, harsh screams, of an approaching storm. 



We have said on the score of profit, pea-fowl 

 were not worth attention; but we have found them 

 delicious food, when well fattened, and not a year 

 old. Pea-hens were considered a great luxury on 

 the tables of the Romans. 



The peacock is supposed to have been originally 

 a native of India ; but they have long been intro- 

 duced into Europe and tliis country as oruaments 

 to the mansions of gentlemen fiirmers. It is said 

 to be at present found in a state of freedom upon 

 the islands of Java and Ceylon. It is asserted by 

 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 their journey to 

 the classical city, to pay handsomely to be specta- 

 tors of that beautiful phenomenon and wonderful 

 paragon of the feathered race. Going to look at 

 the peacock was not only an expensive, but an aris- 

 tocratical entertainment. o. n. bement. 



Springside, March, ISCO. 



^ 1 ^ 



Potatoes — The Peince Albert, &c. — Much 

 has been said within a year or two past about this 

 potato. Can yon, or some of your correspondents, 

 tell me if it is not identical with the G illijioicer'f 

 The latter potato is, and has been, very common in 

 the Boston market — selling from 50 to GO cents 

 per bushel, and is regarded as a seco;uZ-rate potato ; 

 but it yields well, and does not rot. It is a first- 

 rate baking variety, and is valuable for stock. The 

 Prince Albert has been selling at a high figure in 

 this vicinity. I have cultivated both varieties, and 

 think them synonymous. The Davis^ .'Seedling 

 formerly sold. as high as $1.T5 per bushel; but it 

 is now abundant at 40 to 50 cents per bushel. This 

 is a very large, red potato — can hardly be called ' 

 first-rate; it has not sustained its ])ristine reputa- 

 tion. The Jackson White, a potato that originated 

 in Maine, is the most popular potato in the KostoQ 

 market and vicinity. The Jaclson is an early po- 

 tato, yields well, and is free from rot. AVhen 

 cooked, few varieties can equal it; but it must not 

 be boiled too much, as from its mealy propensity it 

 is apt to drop in pieces. — D. Cutts Nye, Lexington-, 

 Mass. 



