3 I 8 The Bird 



whole, exhil)ity, or of the beautiful plumes which, as 

 ill the case of the Suowv Egret, are assumed onlv during: 

 the season of courtship. The great majority are now 

 ex]ilained either as decorations to charm the female, or 

 as mere by-products of tlie vitality of the bird, according 

 as to whether one believes in a greater or less degree of 

 aesthetic appreciation among birds. When we consider 

 the nervous, high-strung natures of birds and realize with 

 what ease they are thrown into what seems a kind of 

 trance, it seems unnecessary to credit them with too great 

 an appreciation of pure beauty. The repetition of man}' 

 similar bright s})ots, as, for example, the eyes of a pea- 

 cock's train, may well serve to attract and hold the atten- 

 tion of the female; while the antics and sounds which 

 man}' birds bring into plav in courtship may appeal ni 

 some more directly psychic way than we know. Tliat 

 birds do have a certain a|)preciation of beauty and har- 

 mony there can be little doubt. When we remember the 

 jarring discords and clashing tints in which a human 

 savage takes delight under the name of nuisic and beauty, 

 we should be ver}- willing to admit some degree of 

 appreciation to the dennu'e Impeyan Pheasant hen which 

 chooses among hcv suitors, clad each in hues such as 

 artist could never imitate: or the fair Hermit Thrush, 

 which selects a singer from the incomparable choir of her 

 serenaders. 1 believe tlmt future field study and experi- 

 ments with caged birds will reveal much that we do not 

 suspect in regard to the causes of coloration. 



