THE PEACOCK. 



HE is the most splendid of all birds. His name has 

 passed into a jDroverb for proud beauty. Where 

 will you match him for glory of plumage, for 

 dignity of mien ? 



Long centuries ago, man found him in the hot forests of 

 Asia, and said, Lo, here in truth is a fowl that is worthy to 

 sun itself in kings' gardens ! And so the Peacock was taken 

 in cunning snares, and carried away to be the wonder and 

 delight of monarchs and courtiers, far from the wild jungles 

 which were the only home and playground he had known. 



When the many-oared galleys of Hiram and Solomon 

 came racing home across the Indian Ocean with rich 

 freights of gold and ivory, a snug corner of the ship would 

 often hold half-a-dozen or more of these royal birds, in 

 cage or pen. They found ready jourchasers, and we need 

 not doubt that in the palace courts of the Wise King 

 himself, who was interested in all fair living things — 



" Over the shining pavements Peacocks drew 

 The splendours of their trains.'' 



The Greeks, too, must have known of this superb Indian 

 fowl at a very early date. For, as they thought of the 

 solemn owl as the favourite bird of Athena (Minerva), the 

 goddess of wisdom, so they pictured the Peacock as at- 

 tending Hera (Juno), the enthroned queen of heaven. 



The clever Greek playwrights and poets quickly noticed 



the comically ugly voice that seemed to them to go so ill 



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