THE ARGUS PHEASANT. 255 



colours, so that his success in courtship appears to have 

 depended on the great size of his plumes, and on the 

 elaboration 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 thia 

 almost human degree of taste, though perhaps she admires 

 the general effect rather than each separate detail. He who 

 thinks that he can safely gauge the discrimination 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 attitudes 

 assumed by the male during the act of courtship, by which 

 the wonderful beauty of his plumage is fully displayed, are 

 purposeless ; and this is a conclusion which I for one will 

 never admit." 



The illustration, by the late Mr. T. W. Wood, speaks for 

 itself ; its accuracy of detail is remarkable, and I have much 

 pleasure in having been accessory to the publication of the 

 first correct delineation of the display of the Argus pheasant 

 that has been produced. 



