. The popular natural history . Zoology. 372 THE PEACOCK. credibly informed, both by natives and settlers living near their haunts, that it is not an unusual event to obtain nearly a bushel of eggs at one time from a single-heap; and as they are dehcious eating they are eagerly sought ; When the Brush Turkey is disturbed, it either runs through the tangled underwood with singular rapidity, or springs upon a low branch of some tree, and reaches the summit by a succession of leaps from branch to branch. This latter peculiarity renders it an easy prey to the sportsman. The large family
. The popular natural history . Zoology. 372 THE PEACOCK. credibly informed, both by natives and settlers living near their haunts, that it is not an unusual event to obtain nearly a bushel of eggs at one time from a single-heap; and as they are dehcious eating they are eagerly sought ; When the Brush Turkey is disturbed, it either runs through the tangled underwood with singular rapidity, or springs upon a low branch of some tree, and reaches the summit by a succession of leaps from branch to branch. This latter peculiarity renders it an easy prey to the sportsman. The large family of the Peacocks, or Pa- vonidae, now cianns our attention. The Peacock may safely be termed one of the most magniticent of the feathered tribe, and may even lay a well- founded claim to the chief ra nk among birds in splendour of plum- age and effulgence of colouring. We are so familiar with the Pea- cock that we think little of its real splendour; but if one of these birds had been brought to Europe for the first time, it would create a greater sensation than even the hippopotamus or the gorilla. The Peacock is an Asiatic bird, the ordinary species being found chiefly in India, and the Javanese Peacock in the country from which it derives its name. In some parts of India the Peacock is extremely common, flocking together in bands of thirty or forty in number, covering the trees with their splendid plumage, and filling the air with their horridly dissonant voices. Captain WiUiamson, in his " Oriental Field Sports," mentions that he has seen at least twelve or fifteen hundred peacocks within sight of the spot where he stood. They abound chiefly in close-wooded forests, particularly where there is an extent of long grass for them to range in. They are very thirsty birds, and will only remain where they can have access to water. Rhur plantations are their favourite shelter, being close above so as to keep off the solar rays, and open at the bottom sufficiently to admit
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
