Charles inquired if any thing was the matter with him; he was answered that they always made such noise. A little further in the woods they found another peacock. His beautiful long tail did not trail after him in the usual way, for he had spread it, so as to make the feathers stand straight out from his body; and the eyes, or large spots in the ends of the feathers, being raised one above the other, had a very pretty effect. In this state he marched about with a proud air, and turned himself round and round, as if to exhibit his gaudy appearance to every body present.
Arthur observed another bird with a fine neck and head like the peacock, but without his beautiful tail. In answer to his inquiries, Mr. Ashley told him that it was a pea-hen, and added, that, with very few exceptions, the females, throughout the feathered race, were greatly inferior in beauty to the males.
The party now returned to the house, and Arthur, who liked to know to what purpose every thing was applied, asked Mr. Ashley, what was the use of the fine birds they had seen?
“They are merely kept as curiosities,” answered that gentleman. “Now and then we kill a young pea-fowl, to eat as a delicacy; but my chief motive in keeping them is, that I may have the pleasure of showing them to my friends.”
“Pheasants are eaten sometimes, I know,” said Charles.
“Yes,” said William; “but not gold and silver pheasants. The common ones that fly about wild, are killed in the shooting season by the sportsmen, the same as partridges and other game.”
Charles. What do you mean by game?
Mr. Ashley. Game denotes such kind of birds, or beasts, as are taken or killed by fowling and hunting.
They were now arrived at the house, and Mr. Ashley left them; but the boys, at the request of Arthur, resumed their game of trapball.