Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-07-02
rnr GORGEOUS PEACOCK.
Some Things About Him That Ara Not
Generally known.

Some Things About Him That Ara Not
Generally known.
Nearly evrey one is familiar with
the appearance Of the peacock the
king among the birds Of rich plumage.
His magnificent costume Is composed
OF more than twelve different tints OF
the most brilliant hue. green and
gold. His voice is the most unmnsical
among birds but his splendid appear
ance makes up for thatdeficiency
In ancient times the peacock was
the bird sacred TO the Greek Hera
says The Philadelphia Times. who
was the Juno Of the Latins and later
Ia the age OF chiyalry. when more
honor was paid to men than 10 the
gods. peacock roasted in Its feath-
ers. with its full train displayed. was
the dainty dish" that was set be-
fore the king on festive occasions.
The native country OF tho peacock
is Southern Asia and the East
Indies. 1t is also found ia Java and
CeylOn. The naturalists that have
seen ii in its native haunts say that
when Il is domesticated iIs feathers
lose much Of their original brilliancy.
With It's train. often feet in length.
and its arching neck and body covered
with feathers like gold and emerald
stars II appears like glistening
monarch OF the wild region it in
habits II is often seen in fiocks Of a
hundred or more.
Toward evening these creatures
gather on the open grass near the for
est seeking for their suppers Should
hunter disturb them they run rap.
idly for a short distance and then rise
obliquely. Their fight is heavy and
somewhat low. as they rarely rise high
er than the tops Of the tallest trees. II
wounded while dying they instantly
fail 20 the ground but unless their
legs are injured they as rapidly re-
cover themselves and run so rapidly
toward the nearest thicket that the
hunter often loses the prize he con-
siders within his grasp.
Thor favorlte home Is in the forest
surrounding mountain table-lands
where they can secrete themselves
among the trees ana tall underground.
whence they sally forth into the open
ground for feeding. They are found
among the mountains OF Southern In
dla as high as q. 900 feet above the
sea but never far from some noun
tain stream or lake.
Tao peacock'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 vIndic.
tive pleasure in killing IL only 20
leave them dead upon the ground
The female chooses a concealed
nook In the underbrush for a nest.
where she carelessly pulls together.
after the fashion Of domestic barnyard
| fowls whatever sticks and dried
leaves are at hand. There she lays
from eight to twelve eggs which she
J broods for thirty days before the
young break their shells
II she is left TO herself she is a good
mother aud attends carefully to her
little ones, but often. when domesti >
Gated. constant interruption chills her
maternal instincts and she heartless-
~ goes to roost on the topmost bougn
Of some tall tree and leaves her ba-
bies to SILVER in tho chill midnight
AIR.
Young pcacocis are delicate, but
should they live and thrive their
growth is very rapid When
months old the difference in the plu-
mage OF the male aud female is dis
tinctly seen. although II is not until
the third year that the male attains
the full glory Of his train. The fe-
male although Of handsome plumage
is entirely wanting in this gorgeous
appendage the PRIDE and glory Of her
mate