. 6 FRE NATURAL HISTORY 
They. feed upon grain and infects, like other a 
gall inaceous birds ; the fewer or bloflom of the 
elder-tree is iliac to them, and it is faid that 
“the {ting of the nettle, and the leaves of the fox : 
~~ glove will kill the young ones, ’ 
In different climates, Pea-fowl lay different | 
_ numbers of eggs; in England but five or fix, of 
a greyifh white, about the fize of Turkey’s egg, > 
and only once in the year. Whilft the Peahen 
lays, fhe endeavours to conceal her neft from the _ 
Peacock, who (it is faid) will fometimes break 
the eggs; but whether he breaks them on pur 
pole, or only in trying to fit upon them. is not. | 
certain, | 
_ The. Peahen ee twenty-feven. or thirty days, 
more or lefs, according to the coolnefs or the — 
heat of the climate or feafon, She is very fhy, 
and if fhe be much obferved, Or diurbed, fhe 
will forfake her eggs, 
_ The little ones, when firft hatched, are fed. 
with barley meal, cheefe curds, and chopped 
 deeks 5 afterwards they will eat barley; but as 
they feed much upon infeéts, like young Turkeys, 
they generally do beft when they ate moftly left 
to the care of their parents. For fome time they — | 
let their wings hang, and do not know how to ufe | 
oem 3, the match carries 5 them: upon her back a 
- : every, a 


