530 Tim Illustrated Book of Poultry. 



other old bird — we came across an old grouse the other day which we had to abandon in despair — 

 is tough enough, a young one is as delicious eating as can possibly be. There need never be any 

 question, therefore, about disposing of surplus stock, should there be any. 



Pea-fowl are, however, tiresome in some respects. The scream of the cock, if near the house, 

 is most disagreeable ; and the bird is also most quarrelsome with other poultry as a general rule, 

 even eating young chicks occasionally. Some birds are so vicious as to attack children or aged 

 persons ; but these are rather the exceptions, and most become very tame as regards mankind, 

 coming to the window to be fed, and making a persistent row till their wants are supplied. They 

 are also so wild in disposition that it is very difficult to breed them in yards, though cases have been 

 known in which the hen has laid and hatched in confinement. As a rule, however, the adult birds 

 roost in trees, or, failing them, on the very ridge of some house or barn, to which they fly with the 

 greatest ease. The latter is, however, very bad for their feet in frosty or snowy weather, and trees 

 are much better. 



Little can be said about their management, for similar reasons ; they must be left in great 

 degree to manage themselves. One cock should not be allowed more than four or five hens, and 

 they should be regularly fed. The hens lay their eggs in the most secluded place they can find — 

 somewhere deep in a copse or shrubbery in general, though some will take to the long grass in an 

 open field— and must on no account be disturbed. They are so impatient of their privacy being 

 invaded, that such an event is nearly always followed by " soft eggs," or. if sitting at the time, with 

 failure ; but if left to themselves, they will almost always bring off regular and good broods. The 

 time of incubation is twenty-eight days. When hatched, the chicks should be treated very much 

 as young turkeys, but giving them more animal food, such as ants' eggs or worms. They are not, 

 however, so delicate as turkeys, and in fine weather they should be let out always, but only on short 

 grass. After a fortnight they need very little care indeed. 



The peahen goes with her chicks about six months, or even till next spring, and is a very fond 

 mother. The young appear to need this extended protection, and hence it is almost useless to 

 attempt to hatch the eggs under common hens, which discard their broods at two months, unless 

 " artificial mothers " are provided to nourish them afterwards. Till they moult, at eighteen months 

 old, the cocks remain the same colour as the hens, and do not get their plumes in full beauty till 

 their third year. Both sexes moult very fast, and appear to suffer much during the process, 

 always seeking the deepest seclusion at such times. It is, however, rapidly over if all goes well, 

 though the new train-feathers seem to remain very short for some little time, when they appear to 

 take a fresh start, and rapidly assume their former length. 



WJiite and pied varieties of the Conmion Pea-fowl are frequently seen, but are, in our opinion, 

 far inferior in beauty to the natural colours. The white are, however, more delicate than the 

 common kind. 



Pea-fowl are very rarely seen at exhibitions, and when they are can only be judged by the 

 general effect to the eye, size also being allowed due weight. 



THE PEACOCK PHEASANTS.— The group of birds {Polyplectron) known by this name 

 are classed by nearly all naturalists between the peacocks and the pheasants ; but their exact 

 position is not easy to define. On the whole, however, they would appear to possess most affinity 

 with the peacock family ; and as they appear quite capable of domestication, at least in the aviary, 

 while their exceeding beauty renders such a result much to be desired, they may legitimately find 

 a small space in this chapter. 



The group is usually considered to include four species ; but the most typical, and to most 



