120 BIEDS 



turning and twisting. I may add that another younger 

 peacock attends the kitchen breakfast and tea with great 

 punctuality, occupying a position on the table at least 

 so I am told. If I call my children to come in from the 

 garden to bed, my own particular peacock will help at 

 once by uttering his cry, which is more far-reaching than 

 anything I can do. Earlier in the day he is less talka- 

 tive. 



W. B. 



July 18, 1908. 



II 



I venture to send you some curious particulars about 

 the behaviour of a young peacock that is kept here. I 

 should be glad to learn whether our experience can be 

 confirmed or illustrated by any of your readers. The bird 

 began by sedulously frequenting the stable yard, and 

 whenever the carriage was brought out of the coach-house 

 he would take his stand by it, and gaze at his reflection 

 in the panels. He then took to accompanying the 

 carriage up to the house, and, standing beside it at the 

 front door, engaged in self-contemplation. He now runs 

 behind the carriage, when it starts from the house, down 

 to a certain point of the drive, apparently in the hope that 

 it may stop, and allow him to continue his favourite 

 occupation; but he seems to conclude at a certain place 

 that the case is hopeless, though if the carriage halts 

 further down the drive he will rejoin it and resume his 

 observations. It occurred to us to wonder what he would 

 do if a looking-glass were placed on the lawn. This was 

 accordingly done, and he at once found it out. Nothing 

 will induce him to quit it. He will stand by it for hours 

 together. At first he occasionally looked inquisitively be- 

 hind the glass at intervals to see if a bird was actually 

 present, but he has given this up now. He stands in 

 front of it, entirely absorbed, often motionless for a long 

 time, occasionally moving his head gently up and down, and 



