334 BRITISH BIRDS. 



soft and delicate tints of the finest flowers, all that 

 dazzles it in the sparkling lustre of the gems, and 

 all that astonishes it in the grand display of the 

 rainbow." Its head is adorned with a tuft, consist- 

 ing of twenty-four feathers, whose slender shafts 

 are furnished with webs only at the ends, painted 

 with the most exquisite green, mixed with gold ; 

 the head, throat, neck, and breast, are of a deep 

 blue glossed with green and gold ; the back of the 

 same, tinged with bronze ; the scapular and lesser 

 wing coverts reddish cream colour, variegated with 

 black; the middle coverts deep blue, glossed with 

 green and gold ; the greater coverts and bastard 

 wing reddish brown, as are also the quills, some of 

 which are variegated with black and green ; the 

 belly and vent are black, with a greenish hue ; but 

 the distinguishing character of this singular bird is 

 its train, which rises above the tail, and, when 

 erected, forms a fan of the most resplendent hues: 

 the two middle feathers are sometimes four feet 

 and a half long, the others gradually diminishing 

 on each side; the shafts, which are white, are fur- 

 nished from their origin nearly to the end, with 

 parted filaments of varying colours ending in a flat 

 vane, which is decorated with what is called the 

 eye. " This is a brilliant spot, enamelled with the 

 most enchanting colours ; yellow, gilded with vari- 

 ous shades; green, running into blue and bright 

 violet, varying according to its different positions; 

 the whole receiving additional lustre from the 

 colour of the centre, which is a fine velvet black." 

 When pleased or delighted, and in the sight of his 

 females, the Peacock erects his train, and displays 

 the majesty of his beauty: all his movements are 



