io6 NATURE-STUDY 



all, the eye and heart of man are his diurnal and nocturnal 

 foe." 



The origin and development of bright colors is believed 

 by some authorities to have something to do with the mating 

 of the birds. Some say that the female chooses for a mate 

 the male that shows the handsomest colors, and that these 

 colors are then transmitted to the next generation. At any 

 rate these fine colors are put on only during the mating 

 season, or are at their brightest during that period, and hence 

 we may call them the matrimonial clothes. The rooster, the 

 peacock, turkey, and other gaily-plumaged birds show their 

 finery to their admiring female friends. 



In the mating season there are developed in some birds 

 curious crests, plumes, waxtips on the wing feathers, ex- 

 crescences on the bill, etc., all of which may be considered 

 as frills of fashion. 



In the Spring a fuller crimson comes upon the robin's breast; 

 In the Spring the wanton lapwing gets himself another crest; 

 In the Spring a liveher iris changes on the burnished dove; 

 In the Spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. 



— Tennyson, Locksley Hall. 



The mate of brightly colored males is less bright as a rule. 

 The female robin, oriole, and bluebird are considerably more 

 subdued in color than the males. The female rose-breasted 

 grosbeak, red-winged blackbird, and scarlet tanager are not 

 at all like the handsome males in color, but are dressed in 

 rusty brown or olive. This is a sacrifice of finery to safety. 

 If the female had the bright colors she would be seen more 

 easily on the nest, and after the young were hatched would 

 be exposed to many dangers from predatory enemies. This 



