COURTSHIP AMONG BIRDS 97 



if long journeys had to be undertaken in search of food, 

 or to avoid extremes of cHmate, or enemies had to be 

 swiftly escaped, such cumbersome wings would lead 

 to speedy extermination. But an even more remarkable 

 feature of these wings is their wonderful coloration. 

 The primaries have blue shafts, and a most delicately 

 mottled pattern formed by spots of reddish chocolate 

 on cream-coloured ground, while the secondaries have 

 their broad webs ornamented with large ocelli, to be 

 described in greater detail presently. When under the 

 influence of sexual excitement Darwin tells us, the wings 

 are so spread as to form a deep concavity, an effect which 

 is gained by pressing the primaries close to the ground, 

 and turning the elbows upwards. Within this concavity lie 

 the ocelli, in radiating vertical rows. But to produce this 

 effect the bird has to turn its head under its wing, so that 

 it lies behind the screen. Hence it cannot see the female 

 which is the object of these captivating antics. As a 

 consequence, to discover whether he has an audience — 

 for she will often walk disdainfully away — he has constantly 

 to thrust his head through the curtain, and hence many 

 of the feathers in this region get much worn. 



By nature it would seem the Argus Pheasant is a very 

 solitary bird, though we must assume it is polygamous. 

 As the breeding season advances, however, the male 

 proceeds to choose some open space in the depths of the 

 forest — which it never leaves — and therefrom to clear 

 all the dead leaves, and twigs, for a space of some six 

 or eight yards square, so that nothing but the bare earth 

 remains, and thereafter this area is kept scrupulously 

 clean. Here, in solitary state, for a short season he 

 remains, calHng at frequent intervals to advertise the fact 

 that an eligible male is in the neighbourhood desiring 



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