PHEASANT AND GAME PRESERVING 167 



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 chestnut, and is thickly dotted with 

 minute white points. I have shown this feather 

 to several persons, and many have admired it 

 even more 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 

 colours, so that his success in courtship appears 

 to have depended on the great size of his plumes, 



