THE AliCUS I'HEASAN'J'. -Jo^y 



colours, so tliat liis success in courtship a];>poars to li:ive 

 depended on tlie greiit size of his plumc^s, and on the 

 ehihoration of tlie most elegant ]>atterns. j\Jany will declai'e 

 that it is utterly incredible that a female bird should be aljle 

 t(i appreciate fine shading- and exquisite patterns, k is, 

 undoubtediv, a marvellous fact that she should possess this 

 almost human degree oi' taste, though |)erlia|.>s she admires 

 the general effect rather than each separate detail. He who 

 thinks that he can safely gauge tlie discrimination and taste 

 of the lower auinuals may deny that the female Argus 

 pheasant can appreciate such refined beauty; but he will 

 then be compelled to admit that the extraordinary attitudes 

 assumed by the male duriug the act of courtship, by which 

 the wonderful beauty of his plumage is fully displayed, ar 

 puiposeless; and this is a conclusion which I for one wi 

 never admit." 



a'he illustration, by the late Mr. T. W. Wood, speaks f 

 itself ; its a,ccuracy of detail is remarkable, and T have much 

 ]>leasure in having Ijeen accessory to the publication of the 

 fii-st correct delineation of the display of the Argus pheasant 

 that has been produced. 



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