6TEf> PEACOCK. 1 4 J 



two : but the most usual appearance is for the 

 cheeks, throat, upper parts of the belly, and the 

 wing-coverts, to be white. 



Occasionally the Peacock has the whole of the 

 plumage of a pure white colour, the eyes of the 

 train not excepted, but they may be traced by a 

 different undulation of shade upon that part : like 

 many other gallinaceous birds, the female some- 

 times assumes the plumage of the male, after 

 having ceased to breed ; it also obtains strong 

 rudiments of spurs. 



Without doubt the Peacock is the most elegant 

 and beautiful of the feathered creation, the splen- 

 dour of its plumage, and the elegance of its form, 

 not being exceeded by any. Its matchless plumes 

 seem 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 

 rainbow : all contend to give it a place high in our 

 esteem. However, these superb plumes are shed 

 every year : then, as if sensible of his loss, he seeks 

 the most obscure retreats to conceal himself, till 

 the returning spring restores him to his accus- 

 tomed beauty. 



This bird has been long naturalized in Europe, 

 but it is of eastern origin, having been introduced 

 about the time of Alexander into Greece : in the 

 neighbourhood of the Ganges, and the extensive 

 plains of India, it occurs in the greatest profusion, 

 and grows to a great size : it is a^very shy bird in 

 its native state, and is difficult to catch, except by 

 v. \i. p. i. 10 



