254 cassell's book of birds. 



shot, but if only winged speedily recover, and if not closely pursued will nine times out often disappear. 

 The capture of the Peacock is by no means a safe pursuit, for Williamson tells us that wherever that bird 

 and the spotted deer abound the tiger will generally be a visitor; thus the borders of jungle containing 

 such game are highly dangerous. At the season when the peepul berries and figs are in season their 

 flesh is rather bitter ; but when they have fed for a time among corn-fields, the flesh of the young is 

 remarkably sweet and juicy. The nest is formed among thick shrubs or on high garden walls, or even 

 on the roofs of houses. When the young are bred in an elevated situation, they are said to be carried 

 to the ground by the parent on her back. The eggs, from four to six in number, are hatched within 

 thirty days, and within three months of their birth the sex of the young is easily recognisable. 

 When domesticated, the Peahen requires to be kept perfectly undisturbed during the period of 

 incubation, or she will desert her litde family. 



THE COMMON PEACOCK. 



The Common Peacock {Pavo cristatus) is of a magnificent purplish blue on the head, throat, and 

 upper breast, overspread with glowing green and golden lustre ; the green feathers on the back are edged 

 and marked with copper-red ; the centre of the back is deep blue, the wing white striped with black, 

 and the under side black ; the quills and tail are light brown ; the long feathers of the latter, which 

 form the graceful train that renders this bird so conspicuous, being decorated with numerous ocellated 

 spots. The crest-feathers, from twenty to twenty-four in number, are bearded at their tips. The eye 

 is dark bro\vn, and the bare ring that surrounds it whitish ; the beak and foot are greyish-brown. The 

 length of this species is from three and a half to four feet ; the wing measures eighteen and the tail 

 twenty-four inches. The long train-feathers of the upper tail-covers are from four to four feet and a 

 half in length. The female is nut-brown on the head and upper throat ; the feathers on the nape are 

 greenish, edged with whitish brown j those of the mantle light brown, marked with delicate lines ; and 

 those on the throat, breast, and belly white ; the quills are brown, and the tail-feathers brown 

 tipped with white. The hen is from thirty-six to thirty-eight inches Jong ; her wing measures fifteen 

 and tail from twelve to thirteen inches ; her crest is much smaller and darker than that of her mate. 



The general form of this magnificent bird is exceedingly elegant ; and when he elevates and 

 spreads his gorgeous train to the sun, displaying it in every way, as if conscious of the admiration he 

 is exciting, the beholder is constrained to admit that there is no creature upon which Nature has 

 lavished her powers of adornment with a more unsparing hand. The voice of the Peacock is 

 extremely harsh and disagreeable, closely resembling in sound the word paon, which is its French 

 name. The introduction of this bird into Europe is ascribed to Alexander the Great, but the exact 

 date at which it was first imported into England is unknown. 



This Pea-fowl inhabits the whole of India Proper, and is replaced in Assam arid the countries to 

 the east by another species. Jerdon tell us, " It frequents forests and jungly places, more especially 

 delighting in hilly and mountainous districts ; and in the more open and level countr)', wooded 

 ravines and river banks are the never-failing resort of some of them. It comes forth to the open 

 glades and fields to feed in the morning and evening, retiring to the jungles for shelter during the heat 

 of the day, and roosting at night on high trees. 



" During the courting season," says Jerdon, "the Peacock raises his tail vertically, and with it of 

 course the lengthened train, spreading it out and strutting to captivate the hen birds ; he has also 

 the power of clattering the feathers in a most curious manner. It is a beautiful sight to come 

 suddenly on twenty or thirty Pea-fowl, the males displaying their gorgeous trains, and strutting about 

 in all the pomp of pride before the gratified females. The train continues to increase in len.^h for 

 many years, at each successive moult, but it appears to be shed very irregularly." The breeding of 



