ARTISTIC TASTE OF BIRDS 



carrying baskets, and the habits and tastes of the insects have 

 been modified in the most extraordinary way. 



Perhaps also the association of bright coloxu-s with a very 

 pleasant sensation — that of a full, satisfying meal — has 

 raised the artistic sensibilities of butterflies, sunbirds, hum- 

 ming birds, etc. For certainly these flower-haunting birds 

 and butterflies are remarkable for their brilliant colouring. 

 This has probably been brought about by the preference of 

 the females for the most brilliantly coloured male butterflies 

 and humming birds. 



At any rate bright reds and blues are common to both 

 bird or insect and to the flowers that they frequent. But 

 the most curious point of this whole question lies in the fact 

 that human beings of all grades, South Sea Islanders, the 

 Ancient Greeks, Peruvians, Japanese, Romans, as well as the 

 Parisians and Londoners of to-day, appreciate the beauty of 

 colouring and grace of form which are so obvious in the 

 world of flowers. 



Yet man has had nothing whatever to do with the 

 selection of either these colours or shapes. Many of those 

 which he considers most precious (such as the weird, spotted, 

 and outlandish Orchids of Madagascar and South America) 

 have very likely scarcely ever been seen by man at all. It is 

 to the artistic eye of the honey-bee, bumble-bee, butterfly, 

 and of the humming bird and sunbird, that we owe these 

 exquisite colours. The grace and beauty of outline probably 

 depend upon their perfect symmetry and on the perfect 

 suitability of every curve to its purpose. 



Therefore it seems that the eyes of man, whether savage or 

 civilized, are pleased and comforted by these same colours 

 that delight the little brains of insects and birds. 



This is indeed a mysterious fact. 

 F 8i 



