232 THE STORY OF THE BIRDS 



In some cases these displays take the form of 

 posturing and dehberate movement. One of 

 the biggest of these performers is the Great 

 Bustard. The male throws himself into indis- 

 cribably odd attitudes during the recurring 

 periods of courtship. Another Bustard, an 

 Indian species (Otis bengalensis), puffs out his 

 plumage in a very similar way, turning his tail 

 right over his back, until he seems to be nothing 

 but a shapeless mass of feathers, when he begins 

 to strut about, bursting with pride, and as if 

 entreating the female birds to come and admire 

 his vain display. A still more remarkable 

 instance of posturing is furnished by that very 

 beautiful bird, the male Argus Pheasant. In 

 this species the secondary quills are enormously 

 developed, and each of them is ornamented with 

 a row of circular spots on the outer web, besides 

 being elegantly striped and marked with rows 

 of smaller spots. These large spots are wonder- 

 fully shaded, and stand out Hke balls, resting 

 loosely within cups or sockets. When about to 

 display, he elevates his curiously elongated tail 

 feathers, and throws out his bespangled wings 

 into an almost circular shield, behind which the 

 body is almost entirely hidden, the neck and 

 head being held on one side, and he sometimes 



