408 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



ately preceding actual pairing ; it will then be found that the 

 colours of the feathers and the feathers themselves are in the 

 most perfect condition — a condition which is absolutely essential 

 if the form is to be perfect — and therefore, I think, it will be 

 understood that if a feather is missing, or if the feathers are 

 abraded and not their proper length, the lines as lines of beauty 

 must necessarily be imperfect. This state of perfection is, as a 

 rule, of very short duration ; practically it only exists between 

 the time at which the full development for the season is reached 

 and the time at which the actual pairing takes place — that is to 

 say, during the period in which the display of beauty is essential. 

 I have noticed in the case of many different species — and there- 

 fore by analogy the same fact may probably be assumed to occur 

 amongst all — that within a few hours after actual pairing has 

 taken place the colours of the plumage begin to fade ; and it 

 must be common knowledge to those who have in any way inter- 

 ested themselves in birds, that within a few weeks of this time — 

 as a result of the fading of the colours and the abrasion of the 

 feathers — all intrinsic beauty may be said to have vanished. 

 Amongst those birds in whom the power of song is exceedingly 

 developed, in addition to the display of their vocal powers, 

 there is to some extent a display of their plumage. Such an one 

 is the Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) . Two males, as a rule, 

 pursue the female, singing intermittently, the song at this time 

 being far superior to the song at other times ; when very near 

 the female the song subsides to a very beautiful warble, the notes 

 being very rich ; the feathers at the same time are thrown out 

 all over the body, the tail being sometimes carried almost at 

 right angles to the body. The Garden Warbler (S. hortensis) 

 acts in much the same way, only in this case all the powers of 

 the bird seem to be even more devoted to song. The male 

 Nightingale hops about in front of the female, flirting his tail, 

 the feathers being thrown out all over the body, the bright patch 

 above the tail showing very strikingly, especially, as is frequently 

 the case, when the display takes place under bushes in a subdued 

 light. 



Two or more males pursue the female Chiffchaff (Phyllo- 

 scopus rufus). When near the female the male throws out his 

 feathers all over his body, drops his wings rather loosely, spreads 



