GALLINACE^. 333 



Pavo,'* the Peacock. 



Perhaps there is not in the whole range of Orni- 

 thology a more magnificent bird than the common 

 Peacock. The gracefulness of its shape, the light- 

 ness of its elegant crest, its noble size, and its gem- 

 med and glittering train, render it unrivalled even in 

 the gorgeous forests of India. The tail coverts are 

 very long, and being capable of erection, as in the 

 Turkey, but more completely, form an upright cir- 

 cular fan of great breadth, studded with the most 

 lustrous eye-like spots. Beautiful as is the common 

 species (P. Cristatus) in captivity, it is yet surpassed 

 by the richer brilliancy of the wild ones, which are still 

 very abundant in some of the forests of India. Co- 

 lonel Williamson speaks with admiration of the num- 

 ber and beauty of the extensive flocks which he has 

 seen in the Jungleterry District, where whole woods 

 are covered with their plumage, radiant in the beams 

 of the rising sun. No less than from twelve to fifteen 

 hundred he has seen at once, for nearly an hour to- 

 gether. A second species (P. Javanicus) is scarcely 

 inferior to this; and there are one or two more, 

 which, though not possessing the magnificence of 

 these two, are yet very beautiful birds. 



Nearly allied to the Peacocks, but wanting the 

 long expansible train, is another bird, found in the 

 North of India, the Impeyan. Pheasant (Lopliopliorus\ 

 Refulgens\ as large as a Turkey, whose perpendicu- 



* Its ancient Latin name. 



, lophos, a crest, and Qfyu, phero, to bear. 



