MENTAL, QUALITIES. 407 



lady who attended them, if she made any great change in her 

 dress. Audubon relates that he reared and tamed a wild turkey 

 which always ran away from any strange dog; this bird escaped 

 into the woods, and some days afterwards Audubon saw, as he 

 thought, a wild turkey, and made his dog chase it; but to his 

 astonishment, the bird did not run away, and the dog, when he 

 came up, did not attack the bird, for they mutually recognized 

 each other as old friends." 



Mr. Jenner Weir is convinced that birds pay particular atten- 

 tion to the colors of other birds, sometimes out of jealousy, and 

 sometimes as a sign of kinship. Thus he turned a reed-bunting 

 (Emberiza schceniculus), which had acquired its black head-dress, 

 into his aviary, and the new-comer was not noticed by any bird, 

 except by a bullfinch, which is likewise black-headed. This bull- 

 finch was a very quiet bird, and had never before quarreled with 

 any of its comrades, including another reed-bunting, which had 

 not as yet become black-headed: but the reed-bunting with a 

 black head was so unmercifully treated, that it had to be re- 

 moved. Spiza cyanea, during the breeding-season, is of a bright 

 blue color; and though generally peaceable, it attacked S. ciris, 

 which has only the head blue, and completely scalped the unfortu- 

 nate bird. Mr. Weir was also obliged to turn out a robin, as it 

 fiercely attacked all the birds in his aviary with any red in their 

 plumage, but no other kinds; It actually killed a red-breasted 

 crossbill, and nearly killed a goldfinch. On the other hand, he has 

 observed that some birds, when first introduced, fly towards the 

 species which resemble them most in color, and settle by their 

 sides. 



As male birds display their fine plumage and other ornaments 

 with so much care before the females, it is obviously probable that 

 these appreciate the beauty of their suitors. It is, however, dif- 

 ficult to obtain direct evidence of their capacity to appreciate 

 beauty. When birds gaze at themselves in a looking-glass (of 

 which many instances have been recorded) we cannot feel sure 

 that it is not from jealousy of a supposed rival, though this is not 

 the conclusion of some observers. In other cases it is difficult to 

 distinguish between mere curiosity and admiration. It is per- 

 haps the former feeling which, as stated by Lord Lilford,'° at- 

 tracts the ruff towards any bright object, so that, in the Ionian Is- 

 lands, "it will dart down to a bright-colored handkerchief, regar'd- 

 "less of repeated shots." The common lark is drawn down from 

 the sky, and is caught in large numbers, by a small mirror made 



" Hewitt on wild ducks, 'Journal of Horticulture,' Jan. 13, 1863, p. 39. 

 Audubon on the wild turkey, 'Ornith. Biography,' vol. i. p. 14. Oa 

 the mocking-thrush, ibid. vol. i. p. 110. 



^ The 'Ibis,' vol. ii. 1860, p. 344. 



