PADDY-BIRDS AND EGRETS 239 



At the advent of the monsoon, when the frogs begin 

 to croak in deafening chorus, the male birds "go 

 a-courting." They assume nuptial ornaments which 

 consist of a ruff and some maroon feathers. The hen 

 birds deck themselves out in similar finery, which is 

 very annoying of them, for they thus present to natur- 

 alists a very awkward problem. Neither natural nor 

 sexual selection will explain this change in both sexes. 

 The dingy brown hue cannot be improved upon so far 

 as the former is concerned, and, if this be doffed in 

 deference to sexual selection — the preference of the 

 ladies for bright colours — how are we to account for the 

 change in the female? It would rather seem that 

 the change is an adventitious one, connected with the 

 reproductive function, and not in any way benefiting 

 the bird. 



It is scarcely necessary to state that the paddy-bird's 

 nest, which is built in a tree, is an untidy structure, 

 made of sticks, and is, in every way, in keeping with 

 the general character of the bird. 



The cattle egret {Bubulcus coromandus) is nearly 

 related to the paddy-bird. 



Never did two kinsmen present a greater contrast. 

 The pond heron is solitary, inconspicuously coloured, 

 and sluggish even for a heron. The cattle egret is 

 gregarious, conspicuously clothed in white, and is the 

 most energetic member of the heron tribe. It does 

 not wait for its food to come to it, but " walks up " the 

 insects upon which it feeds. It not infrequently makes 

 a cow act as its beater. 



Insects, whatever Lord Avebury may say to the 



