. Cassell's natural history . the parents, and two were entirely white. Nevertheless,Mauduyt, who relates this fact, observes that there was no white peacock in the village,nor in the environs. Tlie same thing occurred, a few years before, on an estate equallynear Paris. It thus appears that the whiteness of the plumage of the peacock is asimple accidental variety, which one cannot regard as forming a permanent race; and,still further, that these white peacocks are very rare. Althouo-h the plumage of the white peacock is altugetlicr of this colour, tlie longplumes of the train do yet retain, a
. Cassell's natural history . the parents, and two were entirely white. Nevertheless,Mauduyt, who relates this fact, observes that there was no white peacock in the village,nor in the environs. Tlie same thing occurred, a few years before, on an estate equallynear Paris. It thus appears that the whiteness of the plumage of the peacock is asimple accidental variety, which one cannot regard as forming a permanent race; and,still further, that these white peacocks are very rare. Althouo-h the plumage of the white peacock is altugetlicr of this colour, tlie longplumes of the train do yet retain, at their extremities, some vestiges of the brilliantmirrors peculiar to the species ; and all the rest of their livery carries tlie impression ofthe ditierent colours, though feebly sketched with a white moro or less pure. Thevariety of the white peacocks always bear a liigher price than (lie others. They arecxceedino-lv handsome, and [irolKce nii cHccI in flu niidst of ,i (l< df i-icldy-deporatcd THE CHINESE PEACOCK PllEASAXT. The peacocks, properly so called, are valued, iu all countries where they are known, fortheir beauty. Thus, they are great favourites in Persia, and are more common therethan in England as an ornament in grounds and gardens. The King of Persia has athrone «]uch is called the throne of the peacock, from two representations of peacocks,which are placed on square pillars on each side of the seat. These sculptured birds arestudded with precious stones, and each of them holds a large ruby in its beak. In China,beautiful fire-screens, and other ornamental articles, are made of peacocks feathers,tastefully arranged, and mounted on ivory liandles. ilany Hindoo temples in theDukhun have considerable flocks of peacocks. On comparison with the bird domesticatedin Europe, the latter is found, both male and female, to be absolutely identical with thewild bird of India. Solomon, doubtless, constituted the peacock one of tTie ornaments of
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1854
