July, 1920 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
83 ^ 
Other specimens collected on the same excursion were “ 
—Thinnfcldia lancifolia (Morris); Cladoplilcbis australis 
(Morris) ; Pter^phylhnn wultilincatum (Shirley) ; Ofosa- 
mitcs sp. ; Ginglw bidcns (Shirley); G. Suninondsii 
(Shirley). 
PjK.' 
COURTSHIP AMONG IMRDS. 
\> ■ 
By a. H. C111S110F.M. 
The varied methods of courtship among birds is one ot 
great fascination, and concerning which many interesting' 
theories ‘ have been advanced. Certainly, the two main 
factors availed of by the fair sex (in this case the masculine 
gender) are beauty of plumage and (or) voice, but there 
arc famous instances in which either or both of these factors, 
are stressed by remarkable antics on the part of the male 
bird — sometimes, indeed, the deportment is more pro- 
nounced than the “ display." 
In the opinion of Sir Ray Lankester. who has made a 
somewhat dose study of the subject, the fascination of the 
female bird in such cases is akin to hypnotism among 
human beings. The same scientist holds that it is not 
correct to say that a male bird makes these displays for the 
purpose of fascinating the female. In his opinion, the bird 
merelv '' finds itself provided with fine feathers, and has 
probably a brief conscious pleasure in the fact, just as it has 
in singing, but it has, of course, no control over the growth 
of its feathers, nor conscious purpose in their jn'oduction. 
Siinilarh'. it has no knowledge or consciousness of a ])urpose 
in the antics of ‘ display.* nor in singing its melodious song, 
thongli certainly it is gratified and has pleasurable sensati()U> 
in the instinctive performances it hnds itself going through." 
It is easy to agree with Professor Lankester that the 
bird has no control over the growth of its feathers, but not 
so easy to accept his dictum that this warm-blooded creature 
has no consciousness of a purpose in its antics or voiceful- 
ness. Think of the dancing of the male Lyre Birds, Bower 
Birds, and Scrub Birds (Atriclioriiis) ! Think of the varied 
songs of pleasure and sorrow, appeal and challenge, 
common among birds! This aside, however, what would 
Sir Ray Lankester — or even the great Fabre — say to 
instances of gifts being bestowed by certain male birds 
