THE RELATIONS OF THE SEXES 145 



that the wonderful " train," which is the Peacock's crowning 

 glory, is composed partly of the feathers of the back and partly 

 of the coverts of the tail feathers, which latter are used as a 

 support to the train. The long ocellated feathers, by the way, 

 are the covert feathers. This magnificent appendage, this 

 marvellous train, is made to play a most important part in the 

 Peacock's courtship, though whether he is as conscious of its 

 beauty as some imagine is a debatable point. 



If he be carefully watched it will be seen that he first 

 places himself more or less in front of her, but at some distance 

 off; then watching his opportunity, turns round, and in turning 

 effectually conceals the beauties which it is his desire at the 

 right moment should overcome her ! Walking rapidly back- 

 wards and going faster and faster, and faster still, till, arrived 

 within a foot of her, he suddenly, like a flash, swings round 

 and displays to the full his truly gorgeous vestments. This 

 turning movement is accompanied by a violent shaking of the 

 train, the quills of which rattle like the pattering of rain upon 

 leaves. Often this movement is followed by a loud scream. 

 But the curious part of it is that the female, for whom all this 

 elaborate display is made, appears to remain supremely in- 

 different, and offers him no encouragement whatever. 



In some ways the display of the Argus Pheasant {Argusi- 

 aniis argus) is even more remarkable. This bird, a native of 

 the Indo-Malay mainland and Sumatra, has the secondary 

 quill feathers of the wings enormously elongated and of great 

 breadth, while they are furthermore remarkable for the great 

 beauty of their coloration. This consists of a number of 

 large eye-like spots, so coloured that when the feathers are 

 held with their free ends upwards, the ocelli appear like so 

 many balls lying each within a cup or socket. But, further- 

 more, the primary quills are also extremely beautiful, being of 

 a soft brown tint sprinkled with small dark spots, while the 

 shaft of the quill is dark blue. Running along the outer mar- 

 gin of this blue shaft is a band of a paler colour than the rest of 

 the vane, and this is thickly spotted with minute white points. 

 It is this band which gives the final touch of perfection to the 

 whole feather. Lastly, the tail of this bird is like the wing 

 feathers, of enormous length, and also possesses a rare beauty of 

 coloration. 



