38 TAILS 



them, the racket-tailed drongo, has the two side 

 feathers extended beyond the rest for nearly a foot, 

 and as thin as wires, expanding into a blade at the 

 ends. I have seen nothing in ladies' hats more 

 preposterous. It is vain to object that there can 

 be no proper comparison between tails and hats 

 because the woman chooses her own hat while the 

 bird has to wear what Nature has given it. I know 

 that, but the contention is utterly superficial. What 

 choice has a woman as to the style of her hat ? 

 Fashion prescribes for her, and Nature for the birds ; 

 that is all the difference. No doubt she acquiesces 

 when theoretically she might rebel. The bird cannot 

 rebel, but does it not acquiesce ? Does a lyre bird 

 submit to its tail — wear it under protest, so to speak ? 

 Believe me, every bird that has an aesthetic tail 

 knows the fact, and tries to live up to it. We may 

 push the argument even further, for the motmot 

 of Brazil is not content with a ready-made tail, but 

 actually strips the web off the two long side feathers 

 with its own beak, except a little patch at the end, 

 so as to get the pattern which Nature, if one must 

 use the phrase, gave to the racket- tailed drongo. 

 A specimen is exhibited in the hall of the South 

 Kensington Museum. 



In this connection I may also say that the shape 

 or colour of a tail is not everything. An observant 

 eye may find much to note in the wearing of them. 

 There is a stylish way of carrying a tail and a 

 slovenly way, and there are coquettish arts for the 



