The old mansion had a still more venerable look in the yellow
sunshine than by pale moonlight; and I could not but feel the force of
the squire's idea, that the formal terraces, heavily moulded
balustrades, and clipped yew-trees, carried with them an air of
proud aristocracy. There appeared to be an unusual number of
peacocks about the place, and I was making some remarks upon what I
termed a flock of them, that were basking under a sunny wall, when I
was gently corrected in my phraseology by Master Simon, who told me
that, according to the most ancient and approved treatise on
hunting, I must say a muster of peacocks. "In the same way," added he,
with a slight air of pedantry, "we say a flight of doves or
swallows, a bevy of quails, a herd of deer, of wrens, or cranes, a
skulk of foxes, or a building of rooks." He went on to inform me that,
according to Sir Anthony Fitzherbert, we ought to ascribe to this bird
"both understanding and glory; for, being praised, he will presently
set up his tail, chiefly against the sun, to the intent you may the
better behold the beauty thereof. But at the fall of the leaf, when
his tail falleth, he will mourn and hide himself in corners, till
his tail come again as it was."
I could not help smiling at this display of small erudition on so
whimsical a subject; but I found that the peacocks were birds of
some consequence at the hall; for Frank Bracebridge informed me that
they were great favorites with his father, who was extremely careful
to keep up the breed; partly because they belonged to chivalry, and
were in great request at the stately banquets of the olden time; and
partly because they had a pomp and magnificence about them, highly
becoming an old family mansion.
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