PEACOCK. 113 



A.— Pavo varius, Bris. i. 288. Id. 8vo.i. 81. Frisch, t. 119. Ind. Orn. ii. 610. 1. (3. 

 Borowsk. ii. 166. Gen. Syn. iv. 671. 



This is probably a mixed breed between the Common and White 

 Peacock ; and of course is to be seen in every variety and proportion 

 of colour between these two birds. 



B.— Pavo albus, Bris. i. 288. Id. 8vo. i. 81. Frisch, t. 120. Raii, 51. A. 2. 



Borowsk. ii. 167. Gerin. ii. 74. 218. Roman. Orn. ii. 37. 

 Le Paon blanc, Buf. ii. 323. 

 White Peacock, Gen. Syn. iv. 672. 1. Var. B. 



This is wholly white, the eyes of the train not excepted ; but 

 these are to be plainly traced out on the feathers by a different un- 

 dulation in shade, though apparently of the same pure white colour. 

 This Variety is said to be more common in England than elsewhere. 



To the above may be added a circumstance now and then oc- 

 curring in the female of this species, having the external marks of 

 the plumage of the male. We have met with two instances of this ; 

 one belonging to a particular friend, the other in the Leverian 

 Museum, formerly in the possession of Lady Tynte;* the latter of 

 these had bred for several years, but after ceasing to lay eggs, gained 

 by degrees the eyed feathers of the male, and at the time of its death, 

 appeared like a young male bird. The above is, however, not 

 singular, as we have known it instanced both in Pheasants and 

 common poultry ; but we cannot at all account for the opposite 

 circumstance taking place in respect to a male Peacock changing 

 into a female, as mentioned by Ausonius in one of his Epigrams : — 



" Vallebanse (nova res et vix credenda Poetis 



" Sed quae de vera promitur Historia) 

 " Feraineam in speciem convertit masculus Ales ; 

 " Pavaque de Pavo constitit ante oculos." 



Auson. Epig. 69. 

 * PI. cxix. 

 vol. vm. Q 



