PEA 
PEACOCK. In the Linnasan fyftem of na- 
ture, a diftinft genus of birds of the order of gal- 
linse: the diftinfruifliins; characters of which are; 
that the head is adorned with an ornament or 
plumes reverfed; and that the tail-feathers are 
long and ocellated. Linn^us enumerates three 
fpecies. 
Peacock, Common. This beautiful bird is 
faid by the vulgar of Italy to haVe the plumagfe of 
an arigel, the voice of a devil, and the guts of a 
thief; and, in fafl, each of thefe qualities is pro- 
perly enough afcribed to this extraordinary bird. 
When it appears with it*s tail expanded, none of 
the feathered creation can vie with it in beauty; 
hut the horrid fcream of it's voice diminiflies the 
pleafure we receive from it's brilliance; and, ftill 
more, it's infatiable gluttony, and it's fpirit of de- 
predation, render it one of the mofc noxious do- 
mefbics that man has taken under his proneftion. 
Peacocks were firft introduced into Europe 
from the Eafl: Indies ; and, in feveral parts of thofe 
extenfive regions, they are ftill found wild in pro- 
di?-ious flocks. So beautiful a bird, and one 
eftcemed fuch a delicacy at the tables of the luxu- 
rious, was not long fuffered to continue in it's 
difcant and original retreats. So early as the days 
of Solomon, we find, among the articles imported 
in his navies, apes and Peacocks. iElian relates, 
that they were brought into Greece from fome 
barbarous country; and were there held in fuch 
high efteem, that a male and a female v/ere va- 
lued at upwards of thirty pounds Englifli money. 
We are alfo informed, that when Alexander was 
in India, he obferved them flying wild in vaft 
numbers on the banks of the River Hyarotis; and 
was fo fliruck with their beauty, that he impofed a 
fevere fine on all who either killed or diflrurbed 
them. Nor is this very fjrpriflng; for the Greeks 
ib much admired thefe beautiful creatures, when 
firfl: feen among them, that every perfon paid a 
fixed price for their exhibition; and numbers of 
people travelled from Lacedemon to Athens purely 
to gratify their curiofity. 
The uncommon beauty of the Peacock was 
probably the reafon of it's being firfl: introduced 
into the Weft; but mankind, from contemplating 
it's gracefulnefs, foon began to think of rendering 
it fubfervient to another appetite. Aufidius 
Hurco fl:ands charged by Pliny with being the 
firfl: who fatted up the Peacock for the entertain- 
ment of the luxurious. But whatever delicacy 
there may be in the flefli of a young Peacock, cer- 
tain it is that an old one is very indifi^erent food : 
neverthelefs, there is no mention made of fele£l!ng 
the youngefl: ; it feems rather probable, that thefe 
birds were killed indifcriminatcly, the beauty of 
their plumage in fome meafure flimulating the 
appetite. Hortenfius the orator was the firfl: who 
ferved them up at an entertainment at Rome; and 
from that time they were confidered as one of the 
principal delicacies at every feafl:. Whether the 
Roman m.cthod of cookery, which was much 
higher than ours, might not have rendered them 
more palateable then than we find them at prefent, 
cannot be afcertained; but it is unquefl:ionable, 
that they ranked Peacocks among the firfl: of 
viandy. 
However, this fanciful reputation of delicacy- 
did not long continue; for we find that, in the 
rfjgn of Francis I. it was cufl:omary to ferve up 
the Peacock at the tables of the great, not with an 
intention to be eaten, but only to be feen. Their 
tnanner was to fl:rip off the flcin ; and then prepat- 
ing the body with the warmefl:fpices, they covered 
it up again in it's former flcin, with all it's plu- 
mage in full difplay, and in no refpeft injured by 
the preparation. The bird, thus prepared, was 
often preferved for many years without corrupt- 
ing; and it is aflTerted of the Peacock's flefli, that 
it will continue free from putrefa6lion longer 
than that of any other animal. To give a higher 
zefl: to thefe entertainments, particularly at nup- 
tials, they filled the bird's beak and throat with 
cotton and camphire, which they fet on fire, in 
order to amufe and delight the company. 
Like other birds of the poultry kind, the Pea- 
cock feeds on corn; but it's chief prediledlion is 
for barley. However, being a very proud and 
fickle bird, there is fcarcely any food it will not at 
times covet and purfue: infefts and tender plants 
are often eagerly fought, even at a time when it 
has a fufiiciency of it's natural food provided more 
conveniently. In the indulgence of thefe ca- 
pricious purfuits, walls cannot eafily confine it: 
it fl:rips the tops of houfes of their tiles or thatch; 
lays wafl;e the labours of the gardener; roots up 
his choicefl: feeds; and nips his favourite flowers 
in the bud. Thus it's beauty is but a poor com- 
penfation for the mifchief it occafions ; and al- 
mofl: every fowl of the gallinaceous kind is pre- 
ferred before it. 
Nor is the Peacock lefs a libertine in his affec- 
tions than a glutton in his appetites. He is fl:ill 
more falacious than even the cock; and though 
not poffeffed of the fame vigour, yet burns with 
more immoderate defire. Fle requires five fe- 
males at leafl: to attend him ; and, if there be not 
a fufficient number, he will take up with the flit- 
ting hen. For this reafon, the Pea-hen endea- 
vours, to the utmofl; of her power, to hide her nefl: 
from the male, as he v/ould otherwife interrupt 
the oflice of incubation, and probably break her 
eggs. The Pea-hen, in this climate, feldom lays 
above five or fix eggs before flie fits. Arifl:otle 
defcribes her as laying twelve; and it is probable 
that, in her native folitudes, {he may be thus 
prolific : for it is certain that, in the forefl:s where 
(he naturally breeds, this fpecies is numerous be- 
yond conception. This bird lives about twenty 
years; and it is not till the third year that it ac- 
quires the beautiful variegated plumage which 
adorns it's tail. 
Taverner informs us, that near the city of Ba- 
roch, in the kingdom of Cambaya, whole flocks 
of thefe birds are feen in the fields; that they are 
extremely fiiy; run off fwifter than partridges i 
and conceal themfelves in thickets. They perch 
on trees by night ; at which time the fowler ap- 
proaches them with a kind of banner, on either 
fide of which the figure of a Peacock is painted: 
at the top of this decoy a lighted torch is fixed; 
and the birds, v/hen difl:urbed, fly to the repre- 
fentation, fuppofing it to be a real bird, and are 
caught in a noofe provided for that purpofe. 
The Pea-hen has no great variety in her co- 
lours; her wings, back, belly, thighs, and feet, 
being entirely brown, inclining to afli. The top 
of her head and her tuft are of the fame colour, 
except that a few greenifli fpots are difperfed on 
the former; her iridcs are of a leaden hue; her 
chin is extremely white; and the feathers on her 
neck are green and undulated, but white at their 
extremities near her breafl:. 
Peacock of Thibet, This bird is by far the 
mofl: 
