KJO NATURALISES CABINET. 



M;iimrr* of the young. 



not reach the brandies of trees, and are exposed 

 to many dangers, considerable attention should 

 at first be paid them; the place which the parent 

 has chosen for her lodging should be discovered, 

 and the young brood should be placed in safety 

 beneath a coop, or within an inclosure of hurdles 

 in the open fields. 



These birds in their infant state are very weak, 

 and drag their wings along the ground, unac- 

 quainted as yet with the use of them. The mo- 

 ther taking them upon her back every evening, 

 carries one of them after the other upon the 

 branch where they are to pass the night ; the 

 next morning she hops from it upon the ground 

 before them, and by accustoming them to follow 

 her, t length teaches them how to use their 

 wings. As the young brood acquire strength, 

 they begin to fight with each other, particularly 

 in warm countries, and, for this reason, the an- 

 cients, who appear to have paid more attention 

 than we to the breeding of these birds, kept them 

 in separate boxes. The crest at length appears, 

 and it is not till then that the peacock discovers 

 them to be his progeny ; for before that time he 

 drives them away as strangers and intruders. It 

 is not safe, however, to put them among the full- 

 grown birds till they are seven months old ; and 

 if they should not perch of themselves upon the 

 Toogt, they should be accustomed to it, and not 

 suffered to sleep on the ground, on account of 

 the cold aud humidity. 

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