POULTRY. 
261 
same treatment as those of the turkey, and equal care ; they require a 
mixture of boiled vegetables, with curds, farinaceous food, as grits, barley- 
meal, etc.; they should be induced to eat as often and as much as they 
will. In a short time they begin to search for insects and their larvae; 
and with a little addition to such fare as this, and what vegetable mat- 
ters they pick up, will keep themselves in good game condition, with- 
out cramming or overfeeding. For a week or two before being killed 
for the table, they should have a liberal allowance of grain and meal. 
Guinea-fowls mate in pairs ; overlooking this circumstance frequently 
occasions disappointment in the broods. The period of incubation is 
twenty-six days. Though they arc not unprofitable birds, as they are 
capable of procuring almost entirely their own living, they are rejected 
by many on account both of their wandering habits, which give trouble, 
and their disagreeable voice, resembling the noise of a wheel turning 
on an ungreased axletree. 
THE PEA-FOWL.— A peacock in full feather, parading on a green 
lawn, or from the extremity of a terrace-wall, displaying the full length 
of his gorgeous tail, is one of the most beautiful living additions to gar- 
den landscape. But of fruit he will prove a devourer, not to be guarded 
against, and both he and his mate are not unfrequently murderous 
assassins of the young of other fowl. 
In domestication it is a rambling bird, unsuited to confined premises ; 
it requires lawns, shrubberies, and wide pleasure-grounds, to which it is 
an appropriate ornament, whether it moves about with its tail expanded, 
or walks trailing it along down avenues of smooth turf, or amongst the 
woodland glades. Semi-wild as the peacock is, it is disposed to become 
familiar, and if encouraged will visit the windows of the house, in order 
to receive an accustomed dole of bread, and when displaying its plumage 
seems to be aware of the admiration it inspires. 
Grain of various kinds, mast, fruits, insects and their larvae, together 
with small reptiles, constitute its food. It is not until the third year 
that the male acquires his glorious plumage ; the aigrette on the head 
in this species (but not in the Japan peafowl) is composed of miniature 
plumes similar to those of the train. The tarsi are spurred, and when 
irritated, the peacock can use them with full effect. 
For roosting, the peacock affects still higher branches than the tur- 
key, and, failing these, the gable end of a house or barn, or some ele- 
vated situation ; and here, through summer and winter will it take its 
station, defying the rain and the cold. Strange that a bird originally 
from India should be so hardy! It would seem as if Providence had 
, expressly given to the gallinaceous birds that quality of constitution 
which fits them for accompanying man into regions far remote from 
their natural habitat. Such is the case, indeed, with all animals essen- 
tially subservient to his welfare ; and we cannot but see in this fact a 
proof of the wisdom and goodness of that God who commanded man 
“to replenish the earth and subdue it.” 
I hough the peafowl roosts in trees, the female incubates on the 
ground, making in her natural state a rude, inartificial nest, in some 
secluded spot, under cover of the dense jungle. The eggs vary in num- 
ber from five to ten. This concealment^ as in the instance of the tur- 
