276 VERTEBRATES. 



cravings of hunger they will crop the tender shoots of clover 

 green corn, or turnips. 



The Peacock. — Its head is adorned with a most imposing 

 ornament of feathers reversed, in the form of a plume. Indeed^ 

 this is a natural crown, which adds exceedingly to the nobleness 

 of its appearance. It has a long tail, diversified with several 

 colors, and adorned with marks at equal distances, having the 

 form of eyes. The golden glowing beauty of these marks, par- 

 ticularly when they reflect the bright beams of the sun, defy the 

 pen of the poet and the pencil of the most accomplished artist. 

 Its wings are mixed with the colors of azure and of gold. While 

 it has the loveliest colors, it has the most disagreeable, harsh, and 

 discordant voice. It is described by some as having the head of 

 a serpent, train of an angel, and the voice of a demon. 



Peacocks were first brought from India, where they are 

 still found in the wild state in immense flocks, and also in the 

 islands of Java and Ceylon. They were imported from India to 

 Greece, and being the bird sacred to Juno, were preserved about 

 the temple of this deity at Samos. 



Or THE Pheasant, as of all other domestic fowls, there 

 are many varieties. There are white pheasants, horned pheasants, 



crested pheasants, spotted phea^ 

 sants; but, of all others, the 

 silver and golden pheasants of 

 China- are the most beautiful. 

 It is a doubt whether the pea- 

 cock itself can bear the com- 

 parison. However, the natives 

 of China would not have us 

 consider it as their most beau- 

 tiful bird, though covered all over with eyes, resembling in mini- 

 ature those of the peacock. By their accounts, it is far exceeded 

 by the fongwang, an imaginary bird, -of which they give a most 

 fantastic description. It is thus that the people of every country, 

 though possessed of the greatest advantages, have still others that 



Horned Pheasant. 



