BIRDS, 469 



obliged to turn out a robin, as it fiercely attacked all the 

 birds in his aviary with anj red in their plumage, but no 

 other kinds; it actually killed a red-brested crossbill and 

 nearly killed a goldfinch. On the other hand, he has 

 observed that some birds, when first introduced, fly toward 

 the species which resemble them most in color, and settle 

 by their sides. 



As male birds display their fine plumage and other orna- 

 ments with so much care before the females, it is obvi- 

 ously probable that these appreciate the beauty of their 

 suitors. It is, however, difficult to obtain direct evidence 

 of their capacity to appreciate beauty. When birds gaze 

 at themselves in a looking-glass (of which many instances 

 have been recorded) we cannot feel sure that it is not from 

 jealousy of a supposed rival, though this is not the conclu- 

 sion of some observers. In other cases it is difficult to dis- 

 tinguish between mere curiosity and admiration. It is 

 perhaps the former feeling which, as stated by Lord Lil- 

 ford,* attracts the ruif toward any bright object, so that, 

 in the Ionian Islands, " it will dart down to a bright-col- 

 ored handkerchief, regardless of repeated shots." The 

 common lark is drawn down from the sky, and is caught 

 in large numbers, by a small mirror made to move and 

 glitter in the sun. Is it admiration or curiosity which 

 leads the magpie, raven, and some other birds to steal and 

 secrete bright objects, such as silver articles or jewels? 



Mr. Gould states that certain humming-birds decorate 

 the outsides of their nests ^^ with the utmost taste ; they 

 instinctively fasten thereon beautiful pieces of flat liclien, 

 the larger pieces in the middle, and the smaller on the part 

 attached to the branch. Now and then a pretty feather 

 is intertwined or fastened to the outer sides, the stem being 

 always so placed that the feather stands out beyond the 

 surface.'' The best evidence, however, of a taste for the 

 beautiful is afforded by the three genera of Australian 

 bower-birds already mentioned. Their bowers (see fig. 46), 

 where the sexes congregate and play strange antics, 

 are variously constructed, but what most concerns us is, 

 that they are decorated by the several species in a different 

 manner. The satin bower-bird collects gayly-colored arti- 

 cles, such as the blue tail-feathers of paroquets, bleached 



*The "Ibis," vol. ii. 1860, p. 344. 



