COURTSHIP. 107 



the long secondary feathers, when they are all 

 expanded together, so as to form the great fan 

 or Srhield. The case of the male argus-pheasant 

 is eminently interesting, because it affords good 

 evidence that the most refined beauty may serve 

 as a sexual charm, and for no other purpose. 

 We must conclude that this is the case, as the 

 secondary and primary wing-feathers are not at 

 all displayed, and the ball-and-socket ornaments 

 are not exhibited in full perfection until the 

 male assumes the attitude of courtship. The 

 argus-pheasant does not possess brilliant colours, 

 so that his success in love appears to depend on 

 the great size of his plumes, and on the elabora- 

 tion of the most elegant patterns. Many will 

 declare that it is utterly incredible that a female 

 bird should be able to appreciate fine shading 

 and exquisite patterns. It is undoubtedly a 

 marvellous fact that she should possess this 

 almost human degree of taste. He who thinks 

 he can safely gauge the discriminations and taste 

 of the lower animals may deny that the female 

 argus-pheasant can appreciate such refined 

 beauty ; but he will then be compelled to admit 

 that the extraordinary attitude assumed by the 

 male during the act of courtship, by which the 

 wonderful beauty of his plumage is fully dis- 

 played, are purposeless ; and this is a conclusion 

 which I for one will never admit." 



The birds of paradise again afford us striking 

 instances of the recognition by birds of their 

 own beauty. 



Dr A. E. Wallace, during his stay in the Aru 

 Islands, was so fortunate as to witness one of the 



