The Common Pea-fowl. 



525 



reflections, the head having an aigrette or crest composed of twenty-four feathers, which are only 

 webbed at the tip, where they show blue and green reflections. The back is green, with a copper- 

 coloured lacing to the feathers ; the wings whitish, striped or barred with black, gradually shading 

 into deep blue. The primaries and true tail-feathers are a dark rich chestnut ; but the tail-coverts 



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THE COMMON' PEACOCK. 



or train are glossy green, ocellated at the tips. The thighs are generally greyish, and the belly and 

 rump black. The eyes are dark hazel, pearled round the edges, and legs brown, spurred as in the 

 common fowl. The neck is very long, slender, and snaky, and the head small in proportion to the 

 body. The peahen is much more subdued in colour, being of a prevailing chestnut brown, 

 variously shaded on difiercnt parts of the body, and mottled or shaded in places, especially about 

 the wings and tail, with dull or greyish white. She has a crest like the male, but duller in colour 



and not so tall. 



This variety is common throughout India, Ceylon, and the adjacent islands. It particularly 



