. A dictionary of birds . e of the neck and shoulders. It breeds true ; but occasionally a presumably pure stock of birdsof the usual coloration throws out one or more having the 1 Classical authors contain many allusions to its high appreciation at the mostsumptuous banquets ; and niediieval bills of fare on state occasions nearly alwaysinclude it. In the days of chivalry one of the most solemn oatlis was taken onthe Peacock, which seems to have been served up garnished with its gaudyplumage. yoo PEACOCK japanned plumage, leading to tlie conclusion that the latter maybe due to reversion to a
. A dictionary of birds . e of the neck and shoulders. It breeds true ; but occasionally a presumably pure stock of birdsof the usual coloration throws out one or more having the 1 Classical authors contain many allusions to its high appreciation at the mostsumptuous banquets ; and niediieval bills of fare on state occasions nearly alwaysinclude it. In the days of chivalry one of the most solemn oatlis was taken onthe Peacock, which seems to have been served up garnished with its gaudyplumage. yoo PEACOCK japanned plumage, leading to tlie conclusion that the latter maybe due to reversion to a primordial and otherwise extinct condi-tion of the species, and it is to be observed that the japanned male has in the coloration of the parts mentioned no little re-semblance to that of the second indubitably good species, theP. muticus (or P. sjncifer of some writers) of Burma and Java,though the chai-acter of the latters crest—the feathers of vi^hichare barbed along their whele length instead of at the tip only—and. Japanned Peafowls. (Alter Wulf in Elliots rhadankh).) its golden-green neck and breast furnish a ready means of distinc-tion. The late Sir R. Heron was confident that the japannedbreed had arisen in England within his memory,^ and Darwin(Anim. and Flants under Domestic, i. pp. 290-292) was inclined tobelieve it only a variety; but its abrupt appearance, which rests onindisputable evidence, is most suggestive in the light that it may ^ This may liave beeu the case as regards England ; but I have a distinctrecollection of having seen a bird of this form represented in an old Dutchpicture, though when or where I cannot state. An instance of its sudden pro-duction from the ordinary stock occurred to my own knowledge as mentioned byMr. Darwin. PEASEIVEEP—PECTIXEA L PROCESS 701 one day throw on the question of evolution as exhibited in theorigin of species. It should be stated that the japanned birdis not known to exist anywhere as a Mnld race. The Peafowls belon
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1896
