INTRODUCTION xliii 



frontal display is the latest acquired, the most specialized, for in practising it the 

 cocks invariably begin with the lateral, showing off first one side, then the other, as 

 they approach the hen, and only finally assuming the wonderful frontal posture as a 

 crowning climax. 



The Eared-Pheasants are the only ones in which the sexes are identical in 

 colour, although even they are distinguished by the presence of spurs in the male. 

 In the Cheer the cock and hen are rather alike, both being rather generalized in 

 colour. But in all the other pheasants there is a decided brilliancy in the male. 

 Immediately after the breeding season there is a complete moult and all the plumage 

 is renewed, contour, flight and tail feathers, ruffs, ear-plumes, crests and trains. 

 Throughout the winter months, or in the tropics during the dry season, these 

 ornaments are kept more or less concealed, the ruffs and trains are closed tight, the 

 crests shut down, the fiery backs and wonderfully painted wings and tails seldom 

 giving forth a flash of their hidden glories. As spring approaches, the cocks begin 

 to send forth their challenge, either the penetrating crow, or in some cases 

 instrumentally with whirring wings. Shortly after this period courtship begins, one 

 of the most marvellous phases in the life of birds. The object of the cock is to bring 

 to the attention of his prospective mate every brilliant hue and pattern upon his 

 plumage, to make himself appear as large and as blazing an object as possible, to 

 swell out wattles, to rattle the dry quills of feathers, to utter sounds never heard at 

 other times, to shake the dry leaves all about, to vibrate his plumage so that 

 intricate optical effects are obtained. When no attention rewards his efforts he 

 will find some choice morsel of food to bribe the female's wandering glance. 



The pheasant's chief concern throughout the year is to find food and avoid 

 danger. Yet the accomplishment of these prime necessities is jeopardized and 

 handicapped to the breaking point in order that he may have the wherewithal to 

 display himself for a fortnight or so. How much easier the life of a wild Peacock 

 would be if he could dispense with his train and iridescence ; how much more of 

 peace and safety an Impeyan might know, if he could carry the hue of sandstone 

 instead of opal. 



It is staggering to the student of evolution to attempt to explain the origin and 

 development of such a structure as the orange and black ruff of the Golden Pheasant. 

 It does not appear until the second spring, when an examination of it in detail shows it 

 to be a marvel of intricate specialization. Yet even when full grown it is as imperfect 

 to the eye as a closed fan. Each stick of the fan is meaningless in its carving and 

 painting, and only when it is opened the real beauty flashes into view. Throughout the 

 year the ruff of the Golden Pheasant is folded into a maze of black-marked orange 

 feathers. Only when shot forth full-spread before the eyes of the female do the velvet 

 bars fall into place, reinforced by others, hidden until now, and the whole becomes a sun 

 of wonderful concentric beauty. Thus, in order that for a week or two it may be 

 unfolded a few score of times, perhaps for the average duration of a second, it has been 

 carried for months, ensheathed in apparent imperfection. 



Now as to the all-important result. The thought of the little brown hens picking 

 and choosing among their suitors is charming. From an aesthetic point of view even 

 we could accomplish this. Of any three Golden cocks, one is certain to be more ardent, 



