122



Correspondence.



sober coloured males are choosing birds which possess the most vigour stored up

in their systems, vigour which has not been expended on the outward show of

feather colour, as seen in their more brightly coloured brothers.


Finally, as you say, the book opens up a fine field of original thought and

should be read by every deep-thinking breeder of animals and birds.


Yours sincerely,


Fred Smalley, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.


[We are much obliged to Mr. Smalley for his letter. He does not touch

on the point as to why in many species of birds that nest in holes, the females

are as brightly coloured as the males, also to take the ruffs as an example of

choice of the more sober colouration on the part of the females, is to select a

very abnormal and exceptional case, and furthermore if the reeves often “ pair ”

with one of the sober-coloured males, they surely as often select what we look

upon as the more gaily marked ones. But we referred to gorgeous coloured

males whose colours are 1 fixed,’ and suggest that those colours have become so

because through the ages they have been accepted as the most pleasing in the

matrimonial market. Surely the display of the peacock is intended as an

attraction ; and are all the wonderful appendages of male paradise birds, with

their quiverings of erected ‘ wires,’ shields and so on, merely the result of self-

absorbed masculine vanity ? or of vigour without any final object ?


As to the example of Snowy owl and Greenland falcon, etc., one only gave

it en passant , without sufficient thought for certain details, to instance that

some birds which live in regions where fora large portion of the year they are very

invisible amongst the snow-clad surroundings, have apparently assumed a plu¬

mage in consonance with their environment in order to assist them in concealing

themselves either as preying or preyed upon, whilst the raven remains con¬

spicuously black on a white background. The ptarmigan most certainly assumes

plumage in summer and winter which effectively conceals it.


But we hope members will read Mr. Bonhote’s book, for the review was

written mainly in order to advise them to do so, and in no mere spirit of criticism.


Editor] .



NAME OF SUPPOSED TROUPIAL.


SIR,—I have just received in exchange from Cross, of Liverpool, a rather

interesting pair of South American troupials, and I am wondering whether you,

or any of your readers, could name them for me.


In size they are between A. humeralis and A. thilius. The cock is glossy

blue black ; the shoulders and upper wing coverts white and very conspicuous

when flying. The hen is entirely bright bay, the two central feathers of the

tail being white, edged with bay and also very noticeable. The bill is long and

stout and equal to that of the Military troupial. In the cock it is grey and in

the hen dusky black. The legs in both sexes black.


They feed principally on seed but appreciate mealworms. I have not



