HONEYSUCKERS 81 



nature through the grimy panes of a museum window. 

 Like all such theories, it is tempting at first sight, but 

 is untenable because it fails to take cognisance of facts 

 with which every field-naturalist should be acquainted. 

 In the first place, birds of prey rarely attack stationary 

 objects : they look out for moving quarry. Secondly, 

 the cock of many species, such as the paradise flycatcher 

 ( Terpsiphone paradisi), although he is far more showy 

 than the hen, sits on the eggs in the open nest quite as 

 much as she does. In this case what is sauce for the 

 goose is sauce for the gander ; if she needs protective 

 colouring, so does he. It is true that the cock sunbird 

 never takes a turn on the nest ; he is not a family man, 

 but a gay young spark, who goes about bravely attired, 

 with his hand upon the handle of his sword, ready to 

 draw it upon the least provocation. A more pugnacious 

 little bird does not exist. While the hen is laboriously 

 building the wonderful little nest, he spends his time in 

 drinking and revelry, with an occasional visit to the 

 growing nursery to criticise its construction. Hence it 

 might seem that, in the case of the sunbird, the above- 

 mentioned explanation of the sexual dimorphism is the 

 true one. Unfortunately, the nest is not an open one, 

 but a little mango-shaped structure with an entrance at 

 the side, so that the hen when sitting in it is not visible 

 from above. In this case, therefore, as in so many 

 others, we must seek a new explanation of this difference 

 in the appearance of the cocks and hens. 



The nest is in shape and size like a mango. It 

 hangs down from the end of a branch, or any other 

 convenient object. It is composed of dried grass, 



