96 THE FINCHES 



course of true love runs smooth; and should a more richly-tinted 

 suitor appear, it is quite possible (or even likely) that his shower will 

 prevail. But this is a risk from which, by the very principle of sexual 

 selection, no male is exempt. Beginning with the first dawn of 

 appreciative perception on the part of the female, the law travels 

 right upwards ; and perhaps one of the greatest pleasures to be 

 derived from the observation of these simple little bird-courtships is 

 that we may often see in them the germ, or symbolic forecast, of 

 those far higher ones that take place amongst ourselves. 



The above-described courtship of Carduelis is, perhaps, the most 

 remarkable performance of the kind, practised by any of our British 

 finches, 1 and here I would draw attention to a feature which so many 

 of the FringillincB possess in common, that, whether distinctive or not, 

 it may fairly be called a family one. I allude to the combination of 

 vocal and artistic charms by which the males of the various species 

 are accustomed to win the affections of their respective hens. It 

 has for long passed as an axiom that these two means of attraction 

 are not to be found united in a high or an equal degree, yet such 

 examples to the contrary as the king bird of paradise, who has a 

 "beautiful, melodious, warbling song, enchanting to hear," 2 and the 

 lyre bird praised almost as enthusiastically by Australians for its 

 music, as it is shot by them for its tail would of themselves be 

 sufficient, even if they stood alone, to show that there is no necessary 

 antagonism between the one and the other. 



Probably the reverse is the case, for since even the dullest- 

 coloured birds are attracted and made happy both by the appearance 

 and voice of their mates as how should they not be ? there seems 

 no reason why both should not have been improved simultaneously, 

 as making up, between them, the personal charm. Rightly considered, 

 there is amongst birds more equality, in the same* individual, of song 



1 "Mr. Weir informs me that no other British finch turns thus from side to side during 

 his courtship, not even the closely allied male siskin, for he would not thus add to his 

 beauty." Descent of Man, vol. ii. p. 105, 1888. 



2 See Ibis for 1907, pp. 227-8. 



