256 
YERTEBR ATA. 
THE PSACOCK. 
witli hundreds of jewel-like eve-spots, producing an unriValed eifect of grace and beauty. The 
form of tbe bird is also exceedingly elegant, and the general plumage of the body exhibits rich 
metallic tints, that of the neck particularly being of a fine deep bkie, tinged with golden-green. 
The female, however, is of a much more sober hue, her whole plumage being usually of a brown- 
ish color. The voice of the peacock is by no means suitable to the beauty of its external appear- 
" Mexican amusements, in the shape of cock-fights and fandangoes, help to elevate and refine the people of San An- 
tonio — such as choose to participate. Every Sunday, just after mass at the old Mission Church, there is a cock-fight, 
generally numerously attended. The pit is located in the rear of the church, about one square distant. On last Sabbath, 
going past the church door about the time of service, I observed a couple of Mexicans kneeling near the door in a 
pious attitude, which would doubtless have appeared very sober and Christianlike, had not each one held a smart 
game-cock beneath his arm! Pious souls! They had evidently paused a moment on their way to the cock-pit, in 
order to brush over their little short-comings for the past week." 
