118 SEXUAL SELECTIOX: BIRDS. [Part II. 



seem to have some taste for the beautiful both in color 

 and sound. It is certain that the females occasionally ex- 

 hibit, from unknown causes, the strongest antipathies and 

 preferences for particular males. When the sexes differ 

 in color or in other ornaments, the males with rare excep- 

 tions are the most highly decorated, either permanently 

 or temporarily during the breeding-season. They sedu- 

 lously display their various ornaments, exert their voices, 

 and j>erform strange antics in the presence of the females. 

 Even well-armed males, who, it might have been thought, 

 would have altogether depended for success on the law of 

 battle, are in most cases highly ornamented ; and their 

 ornaments have been acquired at the expense of some loss 

 of power. In other cases ornaments have been acquired, 

 at the cost of increased risk from birds and beasts of prey. 

 With various sjDecies many individuals of both sexes con- 

 gregate at the same spot, and their courtship is a pro- 

 longed affair. There is even reason to suspect that the 

 males and females within the same district do not alwavs 

 succeed in pleasing each other and pairing. 



What, then, are we to conclude from these facts and 

 considerations ? Does the male parade his charms with 

 so much pomp and rivalry for no purpose ? Are we not 

 justified in believing that the female exerts a choice, and 

 that she receives the addresses of the male who pleases 

 her most? It is not probable that she consciously delib- 

 erates ; but she is most excited or attracted by the most 

 beautiful, or melodious, or gallant males. Nor need it be 

 supposed that the female studies each stripe or spot of 

 color ; that the peahen, for instance, admires each detail 

 in the gorgeous train of the peacock — she is probably 

 struck only by the general effect. Nevertheless, after hear- 

 ing how carefully the male Argus pheasant displays his 

 elegant primary wing-feathers, and erects his ocellated 

 plumes in the right position for their full effect ; or again, 



