132 PECKHAM. [Vol. 1, 



among birds (Uli), they are, moreover, widely distributed and 

 numerous in individuals ; indeed, we tiud in them the fulfill- 

 ment of every condition specified by Wallace for the develop- 

 ment of high color and ornamental plumage, and yet they are 

 ■entirely lacking in these attributes. 



In speaking of accessory plumes, Mr. Wallace says that 

 in many cases they can have no use, " but must be rather injur- 

 ious than beneficial in the bird's ordinary life. The fact that 

 'they have been developed to so great an extent in a few species 

 is an indication of such perfect adaptation to the conditions of 

 existence, such complete success in the battle for life, that there 

 is, in the adult male at all events, a surplus of strength, vitality 

 and growth-power which is able to expend itself in this wa}-- 

 without injury. That such is the case is shown by the great 

 abundance of most of the species which possess these wonderful 

 superfluities of plumage." * 



Now, remembering that brilliant color and accessory 

 plumes are classed together by Mr. Wallace as arising from 

 identical causes and under identical conditions,t look at the 

 family of pittas, which are adorned with brilliant and strongly 

 contrasted colors. In regard to this group Leonhard Stejneger 

 writes : 



" The rich blues and crimsons, the delicate greens, yellows 

 and purples, the velvety black and pure white (three of which 

 tints at least generally adorn each species) remind one of the 

 tanagers of South America ; and, in fact, these two groups are 

 almost the only ones which have no one characteristic tint or 

 style of dress, but whose different species seem free to adorn 

 themselves witli the brightest hues from Nature's laboratory. 

 There is, however, this difference, that whereas the tanagers are 

 a dominant group, abounding in genera, species and individ- 

 uals, over a very wide area, and presenting to our view much 

 variety of form and almost every possible combination of colors, 

 the pittas are a small and probably decreasing genus, with but 



♦Darwinism, p. 

 + Ibid, p. 291. 



