286 
THE POULTEY BOOK, 
greater than that of any poultry with which I am acquainted, except aquatic 
birds. 
At moulting- time their determination to preserve the most rigid seclusion is 
a peculiarity that I have not seen noticed by any previous writer. At such times 
they will hide themselves anywhere, and appear to suffer constitutionally more 
than other descriptions of poultry. After the wonderfully rapid reproduction of 
the principal train feathers and general plumage, their friendliness returns. 
“ In general Peafowls are very troublesome among young poultry of every other 
Idnd, and cause considerable loss by their obstinate persecution of them, especially 
during the first few days of their existence. 
Peafowls are positive gourmands ; they rarely refuse anything at all eatable, 
and are consequently very destructive in gardens. If the weather be not windy, 
the tops of the highest of buildings are their favourite sunning places, and they 
will reach them with a degree of ease that few parties would credit. As to their 
value on the table, I can confidently recommend young peafowls as most excellent. 
Their flesh very closely resembles that of the pheasant, and when in good 
condition, they certainly carry a far more abundant supply, in proportion to 
the weight of bone, than many other table-birds. If the soil is not a per- 
fectly dry one, the young poults are very prone to cramp and bronchitis; 
but, on the contrary, if the surface is not retentive of moisture, the chicks grow 
very rapidly and are reared freely, requiring but little care after the first week 
or ten days.” 
A very experienced amateur of Peafowls thus describes their habits and manage- 
ment : — 
The peahen . will return to the same nest year after year if she is not 
disturbed. I have one ten or twelve years old, who has often done so ; and the old 
lady is every year the happy mother of healthy chicks. Some of the peahens are 
accustomed to lay under a laurel or other evergreen, and others prefer an open 
meadow — spite of rain or scorching sun. In the latter case I always direct the 
mowers to leave a square patch of long grass ; for I have known instances of the 
hen forsaking her eggs if disturbed. They are fond mothers, and never cast off 
their young till the following spring. It is worse than waste of time to put 
peafowl eggs under a common hen for hatching. Peachicks cling to the mothers 
until February. Nature would not prolong this maternal fondness unless it were 
essential for the well-doing of the chicks. Like other poultry, they would begin 
to take care of themselves if they were not later in coming to maturity. They are 
years longer than many other birds in attaining their mature plumage and growth. 
The young peafowl is at three years old only as a cockerel of one year with other 
poultry. Hens which turn off their broods after a few months cannot rear 
peachicks, which would pine and die for want of the parental care throughout the 
wintry months. 
“ At pairing time a change comes over the v.diole Peafowl race. The hen beats 
