Plumage and its Meaning 



delay. Amongst birds an almost parallel case is afforded 

 by the water-hen : the under side of this bird's erect tail is 

 white. The peculiar and constant flicks which the water- 

 hen is in the habit of giving to its tail seem to render it 

 unduly conspicuous. It is a shy bird, only venturing 

 from its reedy haunts to the open water when it feels 

 certain that there is no risk of danger and when the calls 

 of hunger compel it to do so. On the least alarm it darts 

 for cover and is soon lost to view. Birds of its kind on 

 a hunting cruise, seeing the white tail making for shelter, 

 take the hint and beat a hasty retreat, without loss of 

 time. Seeing that the water-hen usually ventures in the 

 open towards evening, its white tail serves as a better 

 guide, in the failing light, than would any other colour. 



There are recognition or identification marks innumer- 

 able in the bird world : it is easy to pick them out and 

 forms a fascinating study. A striking point, yet a natural 

 one, is that in almost every instance they can best be 

 seen when the bird is viewed from behind. Birds flying 

 towards one another do not need these marks ; it is the 

 bird that is left in the rear which requires assistance in 

 catching up its fellows. " This recognition is of the most 

 vital importance when upon it depends the keeping 

 together of a bird or flock, the following of the parent by 

 the young or the close association of the sexes, either for 

 reproduction, mutual protection or search for sustenance 

 or lastly the quick following of some conspicuous leader 

 to a safe refuge when threatened by danger." 



Of the brilliant and often bizarre plumage assumed by 

 birds in the mating season we have something to say in 

 our chapter on Courtship. The feathers which make up 

 a bird's plumage are not all of the same kind, and the 

 down of nestlings is obviously vastly different to the 

 quill feathers of the adult bird, but we are not concerned 

 with questions of structure. 



There is, however, one kind of feather, which only 

 occurs on certain birds, of so peculiar a nature that we 



