COMMON PEACOCK. 105 



preyed upon by jackals, and probably by tigers. Their 

 nest is made on the ground, commonly on a bank 

 slightly raised above the surrounding level, where, in 

 some appropriate bush, they collect leaves, small sticks, 

 &c. ; and sit so close as not to be scared even by passen- 

 gers whom they can see : they hatch from twelve to 

 lifteen eggs, and the old birds attend and lead out the 

 young in the same way as our domestic fowls. 



The peacock is not found within a considerable dis- 

 tance round Calcutta ; but, according to captain Wil- 

 liamson, whom we are now quoting, their general ren- 

 dezvous seems to be in the Junglelerry district : all the 

 woods in the nabob of Oude's territories are full of 

 them. "^ In the passes of the former district," observes 

 our author, '^ 1 have seen such quantities of pea- 

 fowls as have absolutely surprised me : whole woods were 

 covered with their beautiful plumage, to which a rising 

 sun imparted additional brilliancy ! the small patches of 

 plain among the long grass, most of them cultivated, 

 and with mustard then in bloom, which induced the 

 birds to feed, increased the beauty of the scene. I 

 speak within bounds, when I assert that there could 

 not be less than 1200 to 1500 individuals, of various 

 sizes, within sight at once. Quite fascinated with so 

 grand a display, ] refrained from disturbing them. I 

 have frequently seen great numbers assembled, but 

 nothing to compare to what I witnessed on this occasion, 

 where one might have tliought all the peacocks within 

 fifty miles had assembled by common consent.* The 

 female peacock, like several other rasorial birds, after 

 ceasing to lay eggs, not unfrequently assumes the 

 plumage of the male ; and in an instance which fell 

 under the personal knowletlge of Dr. Latham, the de- 

 ception as to sex was so perfect, that the old female, at 

 the time of her death, appeared in the plumage of a young 

 male. In former times, the feathers were much valued as 

 ornaments, and the crest was used as an ornament by the 

 higher ranks both in India and in this country. In the 



=* Oriental Field Sports, ii. Ul. General Hist, ot Birds, viii. 11 J. 



