THE PHARISEE OF THE JUNGLE 131 
species which have already been domesticated. It is 
strange that peacocks have not become popular pets, 
Possibly this is owing to the absurd English superstition 
which accounts peacocks’ feathers “ unlucky,” whatever 
that may mean. Perhaps it is due to the fact that the 
bird has a penetrating voice, which is best described as 
that of a very lusty cat. 
Unfortunately peafowl are prone to give the world 
the benefit of their vocal music in the dead of night. 
However, cats habitually do this, yet cats are popular 
pets among certain classes of people. In Upper India 
I have more than once been awakened when camping, 
and thought that I heard the cries of some one in sore 
distress, but found that I had only been disturbed by 
the conversation of a couple of peacocks ! 
These birds, whatever they may have been doing 
during the day, invariably roost in trees at night. In 
localities where they abound, it is possible to distinguish, 
before it has grown quite dark, great black things high 
up among the leaves of tall, thick trees; these are 
roosting peafowl. When camping in inhospitable dis- 
tricts, where one’s dé# and provisions arrived only at 
irregular intervals, I have often been reduced to shooting 
peafowl while roosting, and then literally smuggled my 
victims into camp in order not to offend the suscepti- 
bilities of the country folk ! 
Young peafowl make most excellent eating, quite as 
good as Christmas turkey, but an old cock bird can give 
points as regards toughness to any dék bungalow 
murghi, In addition to grain, of which the birds are 
especially fond, peafowl feed on young buds and shoots, 
