Feathers 



53 



commoner feels the call of love for beauty, and day by 

 day the dusty brown tips of his throat-feathers wear 

 away one by one, and leave exposed the clear black 

 centres; and behold, the vulgar frequenter of our streets 



FIG. 35. Two male English Sparrows, showing the difference in colour caused by 

 wear of the feather-tips between October and April. 



and alleys, flaunts a jet cravat before the eyes of his lady- 

 love! 



Colour. 



The very interesting uses which the colours of birds 

 serve, the part they take in courtship, in evading danger, 

 or in enabling birds to find each other, are many. These 

 uses have been much written about, but of the nature 

 and formation of colour less is known. Few of us have 



