JAVA PKACCCK. 



169 



Linnaeus, deceived by the im- 

 perfect accounts then existing 

 of the bird, was led to believe 

 the male was destitute of spurs, 

 and hence called it Pavo mu- 

 ticus: this name, however, has 

 now been very properly changed 

 for that of Dr. Horsfield, under 

 which it now appears. Mr. 

 Bennett * remarks, th at, in con- 

 finement, the pair in the Zoo- 

 logical Gardens are nearly si- 

 milar in their manners to the 

 common sort; and we are quite 

 ignorant of their habits in a 

 state of nature. 



In general size and structure, 

 there is little to distinguish the 

 present from the preceding spe- 

 cies ; they are both nearly of 

 the same size; but the Javanese 

 peacock is readily distinguished by having a crest 

 double the length of the other, and by the feathers 

 themselves being barbed or webbed for their entire 

 length, and of equal breadth throughout. The head 

 and crest alternately reflect blue and green ; the sides 

 of the head, including the region of the eye and ears, 

 are naked, and are light yellow, passing into blue green : 

 the feathers of the neck and breast are scale-like, of a 

 rich blue green colour, edged with a broad metallic 

 border: the wing covers are Hke the back, but deeper; 

 but the quills are light chestnut : the tail feathers, and 

 their elongated covers, are of a splendid metallic brown, 

 glossed with dark green ; the barbs or webs are ex 

 tremely long, silky, and discomposed, terminating, as in 

 the common peacock, in beautiful ocellated spots. It is 

 to be hoped that this species may soon become better 



Gardens of the Zool. Society, ii. 270. 



