no Animal Fashions [SECOND WEEK 



ourselves reversed among the animals; the male " blos- 

 soms forth like the rose," while the female's sombre winter 

 fur or feathers are reduplicated only by a thinner coat for 

 summer. The " spring opening" of the great classes of 

 birds and animals is none the less interesting because its 

 styles are not set by Parisian modistes. 



The most gorgeous display of all is to be found among 

 the birds, the peacock leading in conspicuousness and self- 

 consciousness. What a contrast to the dull earthy-hued 

 little hen, for whose slightest favour he neglects food to 

 raise his Argus-eyed fan, clattering his quill castanets and 

 screaming challenges to his rivals! He will even fight 

 bloody battles with invading suitors; and, after all, failure 

 may be the result. Imagine the feelings of two superb 

 birds fighting over a winsome browny, to see her as I 

 have done walk off with a spurless, half-plumaged young 

 cock! 



The males of many birds, such as the scarlet tanager 

 and the indigo bunting, assume during the winter the 

 sombre green or brown hue of the female, changing in 

 spring to a glorious scarlet and black, or to an exquisite 

 indigo colour respectively. Not only do most of the 

 females of the feathered world retain their dull coats 

 throughout the year, but some deface even this to form 

 feather beds for the precious eggs and nestlings, to protect 

 which bright colours must be entirely foregone. 



The spring is the time when decorations are seen at 

 their best. The snowy egret trails his filmy cloud of 

 plumes, putting to shame the stiff millinery bunches of 

 similar feathers torn from his murdered brethren. Even the 



