Peacock Fans . 
221 
And with his voyce prognosticates all weathers, 
Although God knows but badly he doth sing; 
But when he lookes downe to his base blacke feete, 
He droopes, and is asham’d of things unmeete. 
“ The mighty Macedonian Alexander, 
Marching in lovely triumph to his foes, 
Being accounted the worlds conquerour, 
In Indie spies a peacock e as he goes, 
And marvelling to see so rich a sight 
Charg’d all men not to kill his sweet delight.” 
{Love's Martyr , p. 121.) 
Du Bartas writes:— 
“ There the fair peacock, beautifully brave, 
Proud, portly-strouting, stalking, stately-grave. 
Wheeling his starry trayn, in pomp displayes 
His glorious eyes to Phoebus golden rayes.” 
(Page 46.) 
Peacocks’ plumes have in all ages been prized for 
their beauty, but it is somewhat curious to find that these 
birds were reared in the northern countries of Europe 
expressly for their aesthetic value. Olaus Magnus tells 
us that— 
“ in Ostrogothia, and Yestrogothia, and Sweden, many peacocks 
breed, and they are bred up very carefully: so that at first they are- 
fed with pellets made of barley meal; after that with new-milk cheese,, 
pressed from the milk, for the whey hurts them, then when 35 
days are past they are fed with whole barley; and next in the open 
fields, where, by instinct of nature, they can feed themselves more 
freely, especially where foxes cannot come at them. The reason why 
they are fostered more than other birds is, the profit they make, and 
their fine feathers, which painters and weavers imitate in the north, to 
make distinction of colours, because the pictures of great artists are 
seldome brought hither from far countries, because the way is so 
long.” (Page 203.) 
Lyly mentions another use to which peacocks’ feathers 
may be put: “They that feare the stinging of waspes 
make fannes of peacock tailes, whose spots are like eyes 
{Prologue to Campaspe). 
