154 
THE JAVANESE PEACOCK. 
the yellow skin which surrounds the eyes. The fol- 
lowing is a more detailed description of a beautiful 
specimen in the Edinburgh Museum, from which 
our illustration is taken. 
This bird is nearly similar in size to the common 
peacock, but the whole plumage is of more sub- 
dued brilliancy. The principal distinction is in the 
form of the feathers of the crest, which, instead 
of a nearly bare shaft, and round moon at the tip, 
as in the common peacock, are lengthened, webbed 
from the base nearly of an equal breadth, and com- 
pared by Temminck to the tail of the long-tailed 
titmouse. The bare space upon the cheeks, and 
round the eyes, is of a fine gamboge-yellow. The 
head, neck, and fore part of the breast, are of a 
peculiar greenish tint, being brilliant, with golden 
reflections in some lights ; in others appearing dull 
and subdued. The lower parts are of a dull deep 
greenish brown, instead of the rich blue of the 
well known bird. The train is not so ample in 
proportion, and the eyes or moons are less nume- 
rous ; the centre of each is rich blue, encircled with 
green, brown, and finally with a bronzed ring. The 
shoulders and wing-coverts are without the beau- 
tifully waved appearance of the common peacock, 
and are of a deep blue. The edge of the wing and 
quills are pale yellowish-red. A gradual change 
from the young state to the full plumage takes place, 
and it is the third moult before the complete train 
is displayed. 
