296 LANGUAGE IN OTHER ANIMALS. 



attractions by the erection of hoods, the expansion of tails, 

 or other means does not necessarily indicate, as is too 

 generally supposed, self-conceit or personal pride; nor, 

 indeed, is such erection or expansion necessarily in man's 

 sense of the term a ' showing off.' Gould suggests, on the 

 other hand, that the shyness of male birds may arise from 

 a consciousness that their beauty is a source of danger to 

 themselves. But it has to be proved that, as a rule, male 

 birds are shy, and in proportion to their beauty ; while it has 

 to be determined that no other more probable explanation of 

 these facts, if proved, is open to us. 



Dujardin and Lubbock suggest other interpretations of 

 the facts observed and described by Gelien as to bees than 

 those which occurred to that naturalist himself. Thus bees 

 have been described as licking each other ; and this has been 

 ascribed to their mutual or fraternal affection. Lubbock 

 admits the fact of the licking, but points out that only those 

 bees covered with honey are so licked ; and hence his 

 inference, which is at least legitimate, if it be not also the 

 real explanation of the fact : ' I am satisfied that this is for 

 the sake of the honey rather than of the bee.' 



What has been supposed to be excessive caution in the 

 parrot may really be mere physical awkwardness or slowness 

 of motion (White). 



Many animals possess and exercise the same power that 

 man has of controlling or repressing their feelings for 

 instance, of bodily pain when a sufficient motive for doing 

 so exists. This power of self-control of stifling emotion, 

 of inhibiting or preventing all outward expression of the 

 fear or other poignant feelings which nevertheless exist 

 is illustrated in many common feints, the object of which is 

 to escape danger or death, in many dogs, birds, and beetles. 

 Nor is it always or ever easy, especially for a novice, or for 

 any man unacquainted with the mental character or physical 

 peculiarities of a species with the individuality of some of 

 its members to discriminate between the real or natural 

 and the false or feigned expression even of feature. 



For certain dogs at least can assume as man so 

 constantly does ' company manners ' a behaviour in the 



