66 ' Transactions. 



by Duke of Argyll), removing the question from the natural- 

 ist to the theologian as formerly people did with the earth- 

 quake and the eclipse. Doubtless, we may believe that God 

 makes his works beautiful to please himself, and yet try to 

 find out whether the creatures are pleased with it as well. 



For if in a thousand cases beauty is hid from human eyes, 

 are we safe to assume or deny that it is hid from all eyes ? 

 Very many observations go to strengthen the notion that the 

 inferior animals share with the lords of creation in rejoicing 

 at the sight of their eyes and at the hearing of their cars. 

 The infant who, in its nurse's arms, smiles and attempts to 

 clutch the light, suggests comparisons with the moth or bird 

 that often become victims to the same allurement. The lady 

 who spends hours at her mirror, on her toilet, invites analo- 

 gies with many birds and quadrupeds ivhich show similar 

 pride in personal decoration ; and with the inferior animals 

 as with man, the most loving and the most lovely are not the 

 least distinguished for the development of these tastes. 



Take, for instance, that gorgeous animal the Bird-of- 

 Paradise. Naturalists, who have observed it caged, have 

 given us many glowing accounts of its behaviour. It is said 

 to spend hours surveying its splendid self, jealous lest the 

 least stain should darken the glory of its plumage, while, 

 stretching out its pinions, it cleans in succession every tuft 

 within reach of its bill. Its admiration of its own image in 

 picture or mirror elicited the wonder of the spectators. It 

 has been observed to caw with satisfaction at the completion 

 of its toilet, and look archly at the onlookers as if ready to 

 receive all the admiration that it considers its elegant form 

 and display of plumage demand, of which, says a naturalist, 

 " it appears as proud as a lady of her full ball costume." 

 The bird's vanity even acted as a check on its appetite, 

 for it would not descend to these insects, which, thrown into 

 its cage, alighted on the floor, lest its plumage shovild suffer 

 a soil, and indeed never put its foot upon the ground, except 

 to get into the water-dish for the sake of its ablutions. 



It would scarcely be safe in presence of such testimony 



