THE PEACOCK 275 



Then the quiet forest depths resound with the cries of 

 the two combatants, and the clatter of wings against 

 wings. The grass and leaves are strewn with the beauti- 

 ful feathers, as the sharp spurs tear and rend. Not in- 

 frequently the battle ends in one of the jealous fighters 

 falling dead from wounds and exhaustion. 



A more pleasant sight, but often a very odd one, is 

 that of a peacock "showing off" to his lady-love. "He 

 dances and struts before her, trailing his wings, puffing 

 his glossy blue breast, and spreading his fine feathers 

 into the splendid fan that we know so well." Usually 

 these queer antics are accompanied by a rattling of his 

 stiff quill feathers, which sounds like the pattering of 

 raindrops on the forest leaves. 



By the bye, strictly speaking, it is a mistake to call 

 the train of a Peacock its tail. The gorgeous feathers are 

 really the upper tail-coverts which are of unusual length. 

 The crest is a most dainty ornament, consisting of some 

 twenty-four thin-stemmed feathers, standing upright on 

 the head. It adds much to the royal look of the bird. 



Here is a word-picture of the Peacock, which I came 

 across in a quaint old book, written by an English friar 

 about the middle of the thirteenth century. It is not 

 flattering to the bird : — 



" The Peacock hath an unsteadfast and evil-shapen 

 head, as it were the head of a serpent and with a crest. 

 And he hath a simple pace, and small neck and areared 

 (erect), and a blue breast, and a tail full of eyes dis- 

 tinguished and high with wonder(ful) fairness, and he 

 hath foulest feet and ri veiled (ugly and wrinkled feet)." 



Then follows a queer notion. " And he wondereth of 

 (is surprised at) the fairness of his feathers, and areareth 

 (erects) them up, as it were a circle about his head, and 



