THE POULTRY LOOK. 
285 
lie expresses his doubt by asking, ‘‘ Can the bird be the Malayan form of 
the common species?” 
In a domestic state we are more intimately acquainted with the habits of the 
common species than with those of the Javan and black- winged birds. 
Kemarkable changes and variations have been produced and perpetuated, by the 
influence of domestication, on the colour of the plumage of the Peacock. Thus 
pied and purely white varieties are by no means uncommon — with some persons 
they are favourites — but they certainly are wanting in the gorgeous beauty of the 
natural birds. 
In a state of nature the Peacock is polygamous, and in domestication one cock 
may be mated with three or four hens. The Peahen makes her nest on the 
ground, laying usually five or six eggs before sitting. The period of incubation is 
thirty days. In wet weather the chicks are tender, and should be reared with as 
much care as pheasants or turkeys. The best food for them is custard, ants’ eggs, 
meal worms, oatmeal and milk, etc. As they progress, they may be fed on small 
wheat, barley, or any grain. 
Mr. Hewitt has kindly furnished the following notes on the habits of these birds 
in a domestic state : — “ The habits of these birds are naturally wild and unsociable, 
whilst their love of an unlimited range makes them difficult of restraint. If they 
are removed to fresh premises, a very considerable time usually elapses before they 
appear reconciled to their new home. 
‘‘ This, in my opinion, arises in a great degree from the extended range that is 
generally allotted to them ; as in several instances within my knowledge, peafowls 
have been domesticated so completely, as to become quite as sociable as any other 
variety of poultry. In all such cases, however, they were hatched by a common 
hen. 
“ A friend of mine has a rather extensive flock of that beautiful species the 
Javan Peafowl, the domesticity of which is worth mentioning. They breed very 
freely, and prove equally hardy to rear as the common kind. At breakfast-time 
each day, they invariably attend at the glass-doors of the breakfast-room ; here 
they patiently await any remnants from the morning meal their proprietor thinks 
well to apportion them. If no notice is taken of them, they will trumpet, and 
beat the glass with their bills, to attract the attention of the inmates. 
“ I once possessed a male of the common species. It had been reared by a 
Sebright Bantam hen from an egg found in a field of mowing-grass, at the time 
of cutting. He had no companions but Sebrights, many of which were of great 
value ; yet I never knew even a solitary instance of his injuring one of them. 
‘‘During the number of years this bird was in my possession, even the small 
Sebright chickens were perfectly safe with him, when they too were only a few 
days old ; but I believe this peculiarity arose from the fact of his never having 
ever seen a female of his own species. 
“ If Peafowls are indifferently attended to, their propensity to stroll away is 
