Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29
The Peacock.

ENttHt~NN - - @s-AA@A 49,
where this domosticated bird is spreading his
plumage, without admiration. Nor can we
pass him by in our description Of the feath-
cred tribes, without loss. T.lr
There are four species of the peacock.
Two are found in Asia, one in Africa, and
one in China. Our domesticated peacock
came originally from Asia. All these spe.
cies are Of large size aud Of great external
beauty.
The crested peacock measures about five
feet, including body and trail. The body is
only foot and half long, while the trail is
three feet and half" more sail than bal
last /" Common prudence would require
that this animal should keep near the harbor
in stormy weather! It's head is very small,
but plumed and crested the neck is long
AID SMALL tapering most gracefully from the
breast upward the wings are short and
rounded, with the sixth quill the longest;
the tail is composed of eighteen feathers
long and rounded, which in the male is con-
cealed by the greatly heightened coverss.
This beautiful bird is elegant in form, grace
full 10 movement, and clothed in plumage
resplendent with tints Of green, golden, bronze
and blue. Its long tail coverts, which it
often spreads like fan, are brilliant beyond
description, with their metallic hues, white
shafts, velvet black centre, and bright ter
minal eye spots. Who has not seen the pea
cock display itself il public or private parks.
And the wild species are said to be even
more beautiful than the domesticated.
Griffith says of these birds: d" We find
in their Incompatible robe all that glitters
in tho rainbow, and sparks in the rivers,
the azure tints Of the heavens and the emer-
aid Of the fields" Some are more or less
variegated, and occasionally one is found
entirely white.
The peacock weighs about the Same as a
turkey. His dight is low and heavy. The
female lays from twelve to twenty egg:
once a year aod no more. But we End
illustrated in the peacock the old proverb
That all good things are not given to one. "
He is beautiful beyond comparison, in plum.
age, but horrid in song. A dismal and even
shocking scream is all he can utter. His
legs are black aud homely. He is vorscious
eater, devouring plants, seeds and insect:
without distinction. In the neighbOrhood. OIL
gardens and planted fields, the peacock is at
intoerable nuisance. So disgusting are bis
habits and bad his conduct that he finds but
one companion 1.-THE turkey in the farm yard.
We can trace the history Of the peacock
back as far as the days Of Solomon. HI
was imported from the East, in order t.
crafty the taste Of that monarch, for th'
beautiful in nature. In the days OF luxury
and extravaganza among the Romans, th'
peacock was held in the highest estimation
as an article Of food. He was so popular
among kings and princes that he became I
royal bird. There was time. when il
Greece, a pair Of peacocks cost more than I
hundred dollars IN our money. 1t is sait
that when Alexander the Great was in India
he was so struck with the beauty of thi
bird that he laid heavy penalty upon thos'
who should in any way injure him.
Like the votary Of fashion and folly, who
seeks her chief enjoyment in tho public
streets or giddy throng, the peacock is fOut
of display and admiration. But let US re
member he wears more stars on his spangleC
train, than he carries brains in his head