The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-03-11
rHg GORGEOUS PEACOCK.
Something About Him That Perhaps Yoa
Do Not Know.

DO Not Know.
Nearly every one is familiar with the
appearance of the peacock, the king
among all the birds of rich plumage
His magnificent costume is composed of
more than twelve different tints of the
most brilliant blue, green and gold.
His voice is the most unmusical among
birds, but his splendid appearance
makes up for that deficiency.
In ancient times the peacock was the
bird sacred to the Greek Hera, who was
the Juno of the Latins, and later, in the
age of chiv airy, when more honor was
paid to men than to the gods, peacock
roasted in its feathers, with its full
train displayed, was the dainty dish"
that was set before the king" on fes-
tive occasions.
The native country of the peacock is
southern Asia and the East Indies 1t
is also found in Java and Ceylon. Tho
naturalists that have seen it in its ma
tive haunts say that when it is domes>a.
Gated its feathers lose much of their
original brilliancy. With its train, often
seven feet in length, and its arching
neck and body covered with feathers
like gold and emerald stars, it appears
like glistening monarch of the wild
region it inhabits 1t is often seen in
fiocks Of hundred or more.
Towards evening these creatures
gather on the open grass near the forest
seeking for their supper. Should a
hunter disturb them they run rapidly
for short distance. and then rise
obliquely. Their fight is heavy aud
somewhat low. as they rarely rise
higher than the tops of the tallest trees
If wounded while flying they instantly
fall to the ground, but unless the legs
are injured, they as quickly recover
themselves and run so rapidly towards
the nearest th;cket that the hunter
often loses the prize he considers with
in his grasp
Their favorite home is in the forest
surrounding mountain table lands,
where they can secrete themselves
among the trees and tall underground,
whence they sally forth into the open
ground for feeding. They are found
among the mountains of southern India
as high as six thousand feet above the
sea, but never far from some mountain
stream or lake.
The peacoclx's food is both animal
and vegetable. While he will feast on
wild berries and seeds and make sad
havoc with field of young grain, he is
equally happy with a breakfast OF
worms and bugs, and even small snakes,
which last he takes avindictive pleasure
in killing, If only TO leave them dead
upon the ground
The female chooses a concealed nook
in the underbrush for her nest. where
she carelessly pulls together, after the
fashion of domestic barnyard fowls,
whatever sticks and dried leaves are al
hand. There she lays from eight to
twelve eggs, which she broods for thirty
days before the young break their
shells
If she is left 10 herself she is a good
mother and attends carefully to her
little ones; but often, when tiomesti.
Gated, constant interruption chills he,
maternal instincts and she heartlessly
goes to roost on the topmost bough OF
some tall tree and leaves her babies to
SILVER in the chill midnight air.
Young peacocks are delicate, bu,
should they live and thrive their growth
Is very rapid When three months old
the difference in the plumage of the
male and female is distinctly seen, al
though it is not until the third yea,
that the male attains to the full glory
OF his train. The female, although oil
handsome plumage, is entirely wanting
in this gorgeous appendage, the pride
and glory of her mate. Philadelphia
| Times.