76 ZOOLOGY OF INDIA. 



would in fact have been to return to the countries from 

 whence it came,— to seek again the perpetual sunshine and 

 ever-verdant forests of Asia, the banks 



" Of Ganges or Hyflaspes, Indian streams." 



It appears to have been unknown even in Greece during 

 the early manhood of Alexander the Great, by whom it is 

 said to have been first obsen'ed with no less wonder than 

 delight in the course of his southern expedition, and to have 

 been immediately transmittejl to his native country. It 

 must, however, have multiplied rapidly, after its arrival, as 

 Aristotle, who died within a year or two after " the great 

 Emathean conqueror," mentions the peacock as a well- 

 known bird. The Greeks were satisfied with the delight 

 afforded to the eye, while contemplating its brilliant colours, 

 and most graceful form,— "being so majestical, they would 

 not oflTer it even the show of violence ;"' and it was left to 

 the more, luxurious Romans, not only to serv'e it entire on 

 the table of Hortensius, but to pamper the diseased appetite, 

 or minister to the. inordinate extravagance of Heliogabalus, 

 by presenting enormous dishes of the brains alone. In 

 more modern times, and during the progress of nautical dis- 

 covery and commercial intercourse by which these were dis- 

 tinguished, the peacock has been transported to both the 

 Americas, to many points along the African shores, and to 

 numerous islands of the West Indies. A white variety has 

 also sprung up .in Europe, more frequent in northern than 

 in southern kingdoms, which is not alluded to' by ancient 

 writers, and has probably resulted from the influence of a 

 colder temperature, by which a natural tendency to albinism 

 appears to be produced in many species of the feathered 



race 



There are only two species of this genus, — the one above 

 alluded to, which is too well known to require description, 

 and the Javanese peacock (Pavo Javanicus of Horsfield), of 

 which we have figured both the adult and young, under the 

 name of Aldrovandine peacock, fi-om the specimens in the 

 Edinburgh Museum.* 



It occurs in Japan, Java, and other eastern and southern 



* Wilson's Illustrations of Zoology, vol. i. plates 14 and 15. 



