Chav. XllL 
DISPLAY BY THE MALE. 
89 
marks, to be filled with waving plumes. When thus 
engaged, they become so absorbed that a skilful archer 
may shoot nearly the v/hole party. These birds, when 
kept in confinement in the Malay Archipelago, are said 
to take much care in keeping their feathers clean ; often 
spreading them out, examining them, and removing 
every speck of dirt. One observer, who kept several 
pairs alive, did not doubt that the display of the male 
was intended to please the female.^^ 
The gold-pheasant {Thaumalea jpicta) during his court- 
ship not only expands and raises his splendid frill, but 
turns it, as I have myself seen, obliquely towards the 
female on whichever side she may be standing, obviously 
in order that a large suriace may be displayed before 
her.®^ Mr. Bartlett has observed a male Polyplectron 
(fig. 51) in the act of courtship, and has shewn me a 
specimen stuffed in the attitude then assumed. The 
tail and wing-feathers of this bird are ornamented with 
beautiful ocelli, like those on the peacock’s train. Now 
when the peacock displays himself, he expands and 
erects his tail transversely to his body, for he stands in 
front of the female, and has to shew off, at the same 
time, his rich blue throat and breast. But the breast 
of the Polyplectron is obscurely coloured, and the ocelli 
are not confined to the tail-feathers. Consequently the 
Polyplectron does not stand in front of the female ; but 
he erects and expands liis tail-feathers a little obliquely. 
‘Aimals and Mag. of Nat. Hist.’ vol. xiii. 1854, p. 157; also 
Wallace, ibid. vol. xx. 1857, p. 412, and ‘The Malay Archipelago,’ vol. 
ii. 1869, p. 252. Also Dr. Bennett, as quoted by Brehm, ‘ Thierleben,’ 
B. hi. s. 326. 
Mr. T. W. Wood has given (‘ The Student,’ April, 1870, p. 115) a 
full account of this manner of display, which he calls the lateral or 
one-sided, by the gold j)beasant and by the Japanese pheasant, Ph. 
versicolor. 
