56 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



tail spread out like a fan, struts round and round 

 his mate ; whilst the Goldfinch, whose greatest 

 charms are on his wings, turns his body from side 

 to side, and flashes his yellow-margined pinions in 

 the light. Other birds, such as the Blackcap and 

 the Reed Bunting, erect the most conspicuous 

 feathers on the top of the head during courtship ; 

 whilst the Pigeons swell out their metallic loricated 

 breasts, and display the iridescent hues with the 

 greatest adroitness and skill. I have seen the 

 Magpie expand his ample tail almost over his 

 back, and spread out his black-and-white wings 

 to their full extent, drooping them to the ground, 

 and in a crouching attitude exhibit the beauty of 

 his plumage to the very utmost before several 

 evidently appreciative females. Males and females 

 of this species regularly congregate in early spring, 

 in districts where they are at all numerous, the 

 cocks to thus display their charms and attract the 

 hens. 



Birds that are not gifted with any very re- 

 markable beauty or brilliancy of plumage appeal 

 to the female's fastidious tastes through their song. 

 Nature, ever conservative and sparing, rarely 

 endows a bird with any great musical powers in 

 addition to fine plumes or gorgeously - tinted 

 feathers. The dull - plumaged birds find their 

 ornament and attraction in their song. All our 

 finest songsters are remarkably dull and sombre 

 in colour. Witness the Nightingale, the Willow 

 Wren, the Song Thrush, and the Blackbird ; yet 



