254 PHEASANTS FOR COVERTS AND AVIARIES. 



he was displaying himself. At such times the long secondary 

 feathers in both wings are vertically erected and expanded, 

 and these, together with the enormously elongated tail 

 feathers, made a grand semi-circular upright fan. Now as 

 soon as the wing feathers are held in this position, and the 

 light shines on them from above, the full effect of the 

 shading comes out, and each ocellus at once resembles the 

 ornament called a ball-and-socket. These feathers have 

 been shown to several artists, and all have expressed their 

 admiration at the perfect shading. 



"The primary wing feathers, which in most gallinaceous 

 birds are uniformly coloured, are in the Argus pheasant not 

 less wonderful objects than the secondary wing feathers; 

 they are of a soft brown tint with numerous dark spots, 

 each of which consists of two or three black dots with a 

 surrounding dark zone. But the chief ornament is a space 

 parallel to the dark blue shaft, which in outline forms a 

 perfect second feather lying within the true feather. This 

 inner part is coloured of a lighter chesnut, and is thickly 

 dotted with minute white points. I have shown this feather- 

 to several persons, and many have admired it even moie 

 than the ball-and-socket feathers, and have declared that it 

 was more like a work of art than of Nature. Now these 

 feathers are quite hidden on all ordinary occasions, but are 

 fully displayed when the long secondary feathers are erected, 

 though in a widely different manner ; for they are expanded 

 in front like two little fans or shields, one on each side of 

 the breast near the ground. 



"The case of the male Argus pheasant is eminently 

 interesting, because it affords good evidence that the most 

 refined beauty may serve as a charm for the female, and 

 for no other purpose. We must conclude that this is the 

 case, as the primary wing feathers are never displayed, and 

 the ball-and-socket ornaments are not exhibited in full 

 perfection except when the male assumes the attitude of 

 courtship. The Argus pheasant does not possess brilliant 



