The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-05-05
THE GORGEOUS PEACOCK.
Some Things About Him That Are Not
Generally Known.

THE GORGEOUS PEACOCK.
Some Things About Him That Are Not
Generally Known.
Z Nearly evrey one is familiar with
che 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 unmusical
among birds but his splendid appear
ance makes up for thatdefciency.
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.
in the age of chivalry, when more
honor was paid to men than to the
gods, a peacock roasted in its feath-
ers, with it's full train displayed. was
the dainty dish" that was set be-
fore the king'' on festive occasions
The native country of the peacock
is Southern Asia and the East
Indies 1t is also found in Java and
Ceylon. The naturalists that have
seen it in it's native haunts say that
when it is Gomesticated its feathers
lose much of their original brilliancy.
With its train, often 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 in
habits. 1t is often seen in tlocks 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 short distance and then rise
obliquely. Their flight is heavy and
somewhat low, as they rarely rise high
er than the tops of the tallest trees. II
wounded while flying they instantly
fail to 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.
Their favorlte 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 In
dia as high as 1000 feet above the
sea- but never far from some noun
tain stream or lake.
TIE 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 breakfast
of worms and bugs and even small
snakes. which last he takes vlndic-
tive pleasure in killing. if only to-
leave them dead upon the ground.
The female chooses 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
broods for thirty days before the
young break their Shells
| If she is left TO herself she is a good
mother and attends carefully to her
little ones; but often, when domesti-
Gated, constant interruption chills her
maternal instincts and she heartless-
ly goes to roost on the topmost bougn
of some tall tree and leaves her ba--
bies to shiver in the chill midnight
air.
Young peacocks are delicate. but
should they live and thrive their
growth is very rapid. When 3
months old the difference in the plu-
| mage of the male and female is dis
| tinctly seen, although it 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