Heads and Necks 



283 



verge upon the monotony of a mere oataloo;ue, my plea 

 is that they have been cited with tlie intention of emjjha- 

 sizing the fact of the remarkable degree which decoration, 

 pure and simple, plays in courtship. Viewed from such 

 a standpoint, these facts and comparisons l)ecome im- 

 portant data in the observation of the courtsliip of ])irds, 



Fig. 227. — Snake-bird, .showing cruuk in neck. 



wdiich in its turn is one of tlie most important and interest- 

 ing corollaries of the psychology of these beings. AMiether 

 female l)irds hiwe higlily developed aesthetic feelings, or 

 whether the songs and dances and colour masses act more 

 along the line of the passes of a hyjinotist, is >'ct to be 

 ascertained. 



It is also hoped that a realization of the more immedi- 



