BLUSHING BIRDS 



Every one who has kept and studied many kinds 

 of birds must have noticed how very human they 

 often are in their feelings and the manifestation 

 thereof. Generally, however, birds have to de- 

 pend on the sign-language of wings and tail for 

 expressing their emotions, their features not being 

 of the most mobile kind ; and thus the significance 

 of their gestures may be lost unless one is well 

 acquainted with them. There are, however, a 

 few species which approach us in that their faces 

 change colour under the influence of the feeling 

 of the moment — in other words, they blush. And 

 these, as will be seen in the sequel, are always 

 birds of character, presenting marked peculiarities 

 in their habits. Just so, among ourselves, it is 

 only the higher white races who can blush, for 

 a dark brown skin is not adapted to the change 

 of colour generally associated with that pheno- 

 menon. The blush, among the manifestations 

 of human emotions, is usually associated with 

 the maiden's tremulous acceptance of the avowal 

 of reciprocated love ; but it is as well to re- 

 member that it also tinges the countenance of 



her austere male parent, if he do not regard the 



217 



