Chap. XIV. -Taste for the Beautiful. 413 



with so much care before the females, it is obviously probable 

 that these appreciate the beauty of their suitors. It is, however, 

 difficult to obtain direct evidence of their capacity to appreciate 

 beauty. When birds gaze at themselves in a looking-glass (of 

 which many instances have been recorded) we cannot feel sure 

 that it is not from jealousy of a supposed rival, though this is not 

 the conclusion of some observers. In other cases it is difficult to 

 distinguish between mere curiosity and admiration. It is per- 

 haps the former feeling which, as stated by Lord Lilford, 15 attracts 

 the ruff towards any bright object, so that, in the Ionian Islands, 

 " it will dart down to a bright-coloured handkerchief, regardless 

 " of repeated shots." The common lark is drawn down from the 

 sky, and is caught in large numbers, by a small mirror made to 

 move and glitter in the sun. Is it admiration or curiosity which 

 leads the magpie, raven, and some other birds to steal and 

 secrete bright objects, such as silver articles or jewels ? 



Mr. Gould states that certain humming-birds decorate the 

 outsides of their nests " with the utmost taste ; they instinctively 

 " fasten thereon beautiful pieces of flat lichen, the larger pieces 

 " in the middle, and the smaller on the part attached to the 

 " branch. Now and then a pretty feather is intertwined or 

 " fastened to the outer sides, the stem being always so placed, 

 " that the feather stands out beyond the surface." The best 

 evidence, however, of a taste for the beautiful is afforded by the 

 three genera of Australian bower-birds already mentioned. Their 

 bowers (see fig. 46, p. 382), where the sexes congregate and play 

 strange antics, are variously constructed, but what most, concerns 

 us is, that they are decorated by the several species in a different 

 manner. The Satin bower-bird collects gaily-coloured articles, 

 such as the blue tail-feathers of parrakeets, bleached bones and 

 shells, which it sticks between the twigs, or arranges at the 

 entrance. Mr. Gould found in one bower a neatly- worked stone; 

 tomahawk and a slip of blue cotton, evidently procured from a 

 native encampment. These objects are continually re-arranged, 

 and carried about by the birds whilst at play. The bower of 

 the Spotted bower-bird " is beautifully lined with tall grasses, so 

 " disposed that the heads nearly meet, and the decorations are 

 " very profuse." Bound stones are used to'keep the grass-stems 

 in their proper places, and to make divergent paths leading to 

 the bower. The stones and shells are often brought from a 

 great distance. The Eegent bird, as described by Mr. Eamsay, 

 ornaments its short bower with bleached land-shells belonging to 

 five or six species, and with " berries of various colours, blue, red, 

 " and black, whicn g4ve it when fresh, a very pretty appearance. 



,s The « Ibis,' vol. ii. 1860, p. 34*. 



