318 The Bird 
whole, exhibits, or of the beautiful plumes which, as 
in the case of the Snowy Egret, are assumed only during 
the season of courtship. The great majority are now 
explained either as decorations to charm the female, or 
as mere by-products of the vitality of the bird, accordiag 
as to whether one believes in a greater or less degree of 
esthetic appreciation among birds. When we consider 
the nervous, high-strung natures of birds and realize with 
what ease they are thrown into what seems a kind of 
trance, it seems unnecessary to credit them with too great 
an appreciation of pure beauty. The repetition of many 
similar bright spots, as, for example, the eyes of a pea- 
cock’s train, may well serve to attract and hold the atten- 
tion of the female; while the antics and sounds which 
many birds bring into play in courtship may appeal in 
some more directly psychic way than we know. That 
birds do have a certain appreciation of beauty and har- 
mony there can be little doubt. When we remember the 
jarring discords and clashing tints in which a human 
savage takes delight under the name of music and beauty, 
we should be very willing to admit some degree of 
appreciation to the demure Impeyan Pheasant hen which 
chooses among her suitors, clad each in hues such as 
artist could never imitate; or the fair Hermit Thrush, 
which selects a singer from the incomparable choir of her 
serenaders. I believe that future field study and experi- 
ments with caged birds will reveal much that we do not 
suspect in regard to the causes of coloration. 
