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Review



pheasant, the peacock, the Mandarin duck and so on, which beauty

is so evidently used as an attraction to the females.


Mr. Bonhote says : “ More heat, better and more abundant

“ food, more time between the periodic breeding season and the cold

“ of winter, or the gentle advent of spring ; all these are causes

“ which may and do affect the ‘ vigour ’ of the individual, and it is

vigour ’ which we are suggesting as the main factor by which

“ colour is influenced, and not the direct act of environment.” Yet

there seems no rule to this theory, for the European male bullfinch

in a wild state, and we quite realize that a decline in brilliancy of

the red breast in captivity is due to a lack of vigour, is just as bright

in colouring in winter as in spring, whilst the common sparrow, and

never was there a more vigorous bird, remains what we see it. Is

the bullfinch more full of “ vigour” than the linnet, that the former

keeps his brilliant colour throughout the year, whilst the latter dons

it in the springtime ? All this is puzzling. If the duller colouring

of female birds in many species is due to the fact that their “vigour”

is used up in the cares and strain of maternity, why do we find that

in the case of birds nesting in holes of trees and banks, where they

are entirely concealed from sight, the females are often quite as

brilliant as the males ? for instance, kingfishers, and some of the

parrots and bee-eaters, titmice, nuthatches, etc. Incidentally, why,

and perhaps Mr. Bonhote himself would very kindly suggest an

explanation, why does the pigment which produces red, fade so much

more easily in captivity than green or blue, etc. ? as in the case of

the red cardinal, red sunbird, the linnet, the sepoy finch. Yet the

golden pheasant’s breast retains its brilliancy. Some of our mem¬

bers might make more of a study of these facts As Mr. Bonhote

says : “ The keynote of the fanciers’ method is “ individuality.” . . .

“ To be able to draw any deductions or formulate any hypothesis

“ from the study of individuals entails the making of numerous

“ notes and observations over a considerable period of time ; and is

“ work which should be undoubtedly done by zoological gardens.

“ . . . We are generally told the number of visitors, the amount of

money received (and so on). We are not told the sexes of the

“ animals bred, the period of gestation or incubation, any peculiar

“ mating or nesting habits, etc., etc.”



