PEACOCfe. 



Singular property of its flesh. 



These birds are very clean in their habits, and 

 though unable to fly much, are fond of climbing; 

 they commonly pass the night upon the roofs of 

 houses, where they do considerable mischief, or 

 upon the highest trees, and it is from these situ- 

 ations that they are heard to utter those notes 

 which are thought disagreeeable; but which may 

 probably be their expressions of alarm when their 

 repose meets with any interruption. 



Young peacocks are still thought eatable, 

 though, as already mentioned, the flesh of the 

 old is hard, and naturally very dry; to which 

 quality is owing the singular property of keeping 

 several years unputrefied, as has been proved by 

 very satisfactory experiments. 



The feathers of the peacock were formerly 

 used for making various kinds of fans; and 

 wreaths, like those of laurel, were formed of 

 them, for the poets, called Troubadours. Gessner 

 says, that he saw a kjnd of stuff, the warp of 

 which was composed of silk and gold-thread, and 

 the woof of these feathers ; such, doubtless, was 

 the mantle of peacock's feathers sent by Pope 

 Paul III. to King Pepin. In China, the feathers 

 of the peacock are a mark of authority, and when 

 worn in the cap, announce a mandarin of the 

 highest class. In ancient times they were also 

 among the ornaments of the kings of England. 



At Dunkirk, in the winter of 1776, one of these 

 birds was buried for several days beneath the 

 snow. The owner did not know what had be- 



VOL. UI. NO. XIX. X 



