﻿6 7 © P E A C O C K. 



birds the whole of the wing coverts and fcapialars are of a fine 

 deep blue green, very gloffy ; but the outer edge of the wing and 

 quills are of the ufual colour. 

 PtAGE and This bird, now fo common in Europe, is of eaftern origin, and 



Mankers. * ' r . - . 



has been the admiration of all ages,, from that of King Solomon * 

 to the prefent. Found in a wild ftate in many pa,cts r .q£ Jfrisa 

 and Afia + j but are no where fo large nor fo fine as in India, in 

 the neighbourhood of the Ganges, from whence, by degrees,, they 

 have fpread into all parts, increafing in a wild ftate in the warmer 

 dimes %, but wanting fome care in the colder regions. In ours, 

 this bird does not come to fullnefs of plumage till the third year. 

 The female lays five or fix greyifh white eggs ||, the fize of thofe 

 of a Turkey. Thefe, if let alone, fhe lays in fome feeret place, at 

 a diftance from the ufual refort, to prevent their being broken by 

 the male, which he is apt to do, if he find them. The time of 

 fitting is from twenty-feven to thirty days. The young may be 

 fed with curd, chopped leeks, barley-meal, &c. moiftened j and are 

 fond of grafioppers, and fome other infe&s. In five or fix months 

 will feed as the old ones, on wheat and barley > with what elfe they 

 pick up in the circuit of their confinement. They feem to pre- 

 fer the moft elevated places to rooft on of nights - r fiach as high 

 trees, tops of houfes, and the like. Their cry is loud and inhar- 

 monious ; a perfect contrail to their external beauty. They are 

 caught in India by carrying lights to the trees where they rooft -, 



* Every three years once came the mips oiTarJbiJb, bringing gold and filver, 

 ivory, apes, and Peacocks. — 2 Chron. ix. 21. 

 f Not indigenous to China.— Hift. des oif. 



% Found wild at St. Helena ; alfo at Barbuda, and other Weft India iflands. 

 H As far as twenty in hot climates. 



and 



