VARIATION IN THE TRAIN MORPHOLOGY OF PEACOCKS (PAVO-CRISTATUS)

A sample of full-trained adult male peacocks was collected and measure d to determine whether or not there were any morphological correlates of train elaboration. Peacocks with longer or heavier trains are those with relatively large fat reserves for their overall body mass. The p roportion of feathers in the train which have eyespots is also greater in peacocks with a relatively large muscle. These relationships indic ate that train elaboration may be condition-dependent. Females that pr efer males with larger trains may therefore gain good condition males, which may reflect overall genetic quality. There is also a significan t tendency for larger trained peacocks to have high louse loads, after controlling for body mass. It may be that larger-trained males are ol der, and have accrued more lice than younger ones. Alternatively, long -trained males may have acquired more lice through direct contact with more females than shorter-trained birds.