PEACOCK. 115 



but there will, on comparison, be found some striking differences 

 between the two; the present one is rather more round in the body, 

 and better proportioned, and the general colours more brilliant ; the 

 wing coverts and scapulars are entirely without those variations of 

 black, on a cream-coloured ground, seen in the first species; instead 

 of which those parts are wholly covered with black feathers, which 

 have the appearance of velvet, and in certain lights appear of a 

 most brilliant sapphire-coloured blue; the rest of the wing is not 

 unlike that of the Common Peacock, but more dusky. 



The female has also evident traces of the difference of sex ; in 

 her the shoulders are not wholly black, but marbled with dusky 

 white, the feathers being chiefly cream-coloured, deeply margined 

 with black, and the addition of some streaks and bars. 



The young males more or less resemble the female parent, till 

 the third year, when their plumage becomes complete. 



A pair of these gorgeous birds was in the Leverian Museum, and 

 said to be natives of Japan ; but from later information are rather 

 supposed to inhabit Thibet, in Tartary ; are scarce birds, and little 

 known except in our kingdom, and Holland ; they are often met with 

 at the shops of the dealers in birds, but at a most extravagant price : 

 how far this is distinct, or a Variety only of the Common Sort, we 

 are not prepared to answer, but it is certain, that they multiply with 

 each other, and the produce, as may be expected, varies accordingly. 

 M. Temminck observes, that the original Peacock chiefly differs 

 from the domesticated one in the colour of the wing coverts, which 

 have a gold green and blue gloss, instead of cream-colour, varied 

 with black, as seen in the birds bred in confinement. 



The above black-shouldered one seems to approach near to the 

 Wild Species. 



Q % 



