THE PEACOCK. 155 



Description. 



are covered with a bright green, enriched with a 

 golden tinge, and turning to a brilliant blue. 

 On each side of the head are two long white 

 spots, one of which is situated above the eye, 

 and the other, which is shorter and broader, is 

 placed below it. The top of <he feathers com- 

 posing the crest, glistens with the same rich co- 

 lours as the top of the head. The feathers of 

 the back and rump, are of a very bright green 

 and gold, with reflections of a copper colour : a 

 circle of a velvet-black terminates and borders 

 these feathers, which in arrangement and posi- 

 tion resemble the scales of fishes. The several 

 long feathers which cover the tail, are divided 

 into different rows, placed one above the other ; 

 their stems are white, and from their beginning 

 nearly to the extremity, they are furnished with 

 long barbs, detached from each other, of a bright 

 golden green, with a copper-coloured reflection. 

 At the extremity of these feathers the barbs unite 

 and form an expansive surface, in the midst of 

 which is the eye, a large spot, whose centre is of 

 a velvet black, cut into the form of a heart, and 

 surrounded by a circle of green, with a bright 

 reflection of blue and violet. This circle is again 

 encompassed with two other circles of gold of 

 different tints, and reflections of a copper colour. 

 The last row of these feathers, which cover the 

 tail, is terminated by a surface of a dusky colour, 

 the end of which appears as if cut square, arjd 

 fcas no eyes like the others. 

 V 2 



