92 
SEXUAL SELECTION: BILES. 
PART 1 
It may well be asked, could suck artistically-sk ^ 6 
ornaments bare been formed by means of sexual 
tion? But it will be convenient to defer giving 1 
answer to this question until we treat in the n c 
chapter of the principle of gradation. 
The primary wing-feathers, whick in most gall' li: '_ 
ceous birds are uniformly coloured, are in the Atf , 
pheasant not less wonderful objects than the second 
wing-feathers. They are of a soft brown tint 
numerous dark spots, each of which consists of two , 
three black dots with a surrounding dark zone. ^ I 
the chief ornament is a space parallel to the dark-*- 1 . 
shaft, whick in outline forms a perfect second feat* 1 ., 
lying within the true feather. This inner pa 1 '* \\ 
coloured of a lighter chesnut, and is thickly dot*^ 
with minute white points. 1 have shewn this featko* I 
several persons, and many have admired it even 111 | 
than the ball-and-socket feathers, and have declsM 
that it was more like a work of art than of n ll * u . 
Now these feathers are quite hidden on all ordk ’ 
occasions, but are fully displayed when the long seC ° 
dary feathers are erected, though in a widely difl 
manner ; for they are expanded in front like two - ^ 
ttk 
fans or shields, one on each side of the breast near 
ground. I 
The case of the male Argus pheasant is emin el1 , 
interesting, because it affords good evidence that 
most refined beauty may serve as a charm f° r 
female, and for no other purpose. We must conn 
that this is the case, as the primary wing-featberS (f 
never displayed, and the ball-and-socket ornaments 
not exhibited in full perfection, except when the lJl ‘ , 
assumes the attitude of courtship. The Argus phe^ 
does not possess brilliant colours, so that his succes^j 
courtship appears to have depended on the great * >te 
