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PEACOCK 152 PEANUT Amygdalus. It is distinguished by ob- long, lanceolate cerrulate leaves; soli- tary flowers, of a delicate pink color, ap- pearing before the leaves; and the sarcocarp of the drupe succulent and ten- der, not fibrous as in the almond. Many varieties are cultivated in the United States, and form an important branch of commerce, chiefly in Pennsyl- vania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, western New York, and southern Illi- nois, and California. Much of it is canned, preserved, and dried for the home and foreign markets. PEACOCK, any individual of the genus Pavo, specifically, the common pea- cock (P. cristatus) , a native of India, domesticated in Great Britain. The plumage is extremely gorgeous. Crest "Misfortunes of Elphin," "Crotchet Cas- tle," "Gryll Grange," and a goem called "Rhododaphne." He was the friend and executor of Shelly, and was connected with the East India Office for nearly 40 years. He died in 1866. PEACOCK BUTTERFLY, the Van- essa io, a beautiful butterfly, two and one-half, or two and three-quarter inches across the wings, which are a dull, deep red, each with an eye-like spot. Larva spiny, black, with many white dots. It is seen in numbers, on the tops of nettles, in June and July. The perfect insect appears in August, lives through the winter, and is seen in March and April. PEALE, BEMBBANDT, an American artist; born in Bucks co.. Pa., Feb. 22, PEACOCK of about 24 feathers, webbed only at tip ; green, with blue and gold reflections. Bill and legs horny brown. The peahen is chestnut-brown about the head and nape; breast and neck greenish, edged with pale whity-brown; upper plumage light brown, with faint wavings, increased on upper tail coverts; tail deep brown with whitish tips; ab- domen white; lower parts and under tail coverts brown. Length 38 to 40 inches; crest shorter and duller than in the male. Among the Greeks and Romans the pea- cock was sacred to Hera or Juno. Quin- tus Hortensius (born 119 B. c.) was the first to serve up peacocks at table. The proverbial reproach "vain as a pea- cock," is scarcely well-founded. The display of his train is intended to at- tract the attention of the hen bird, or to outshine the display of some rival. PEACOCK, THOMAS LOVE, an Eng- lish writer; born in 1785. His first im- portant work was a novel entitled "Headlong Hall," published in 1815, and this was followed by "Melincourt," "Nightmare Abbey," "Maid Marian," the 1778. When 17 years old executed a por- trait of Washington, from whom he had three sittings. He painted portraits of many distinguished men. He was presi- dent of the American Academy, and also one of the original members of the Acad- emy of Design. His portrait of Wash- ington (1823) was purchased by Con- gress. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 3, 1860. PEANUT, the pod of the Arachis hypoffssa. The plant is an annual of diffuse habit, with hairy stem, with two paired, abruptly pinnate leaflets. The flowers above ground are sterile, and the pods or legumes are stalked, oblong, cylindrical, and about one inch in length. After the flower withers,^ the stalk of the ovary has the peculiarity of elongat- ing and bending down, forcing the young pod under ground, and thus the seeds become matured at some distance below the surface. As to the native country of the peanut the opinions of botanists are divided between Africa and America. It is extensively cultivated in all tropical and subtropical countries, especially in