96 
SEXUAL SELECTION: BIRDS. 
pA» T 
P' 
tl' 1 ' 
differently, exhibiting before the female his brillia 33 ^ 
spotted breast and scarlet rump and scarlet upper 1 
coverts. I may here add from Dr. Jerdon, that the 
dian Bulbul ( Pycnonotus hmmorrhous) has crimson U® 
tail-coverts, and the beauty of these feathers, it mb 
be thought, could never be well exhibited ; but 
bird “ when excited often spreads them out later* ' 
“so that they can be seen even from above.” 81 .J 
common pigeon lias iridescent feathers on the br^J 
and every one must have seen how the male inflate® 
breast whilst courting the female, thus showing off 
feathers to the best advantage. One of the bean* 1 
bronze-winged pigeons of Australia ( Oct/phaps 
behaves, as described to me by Mr. Weir, very di 
ently : the male, whilst standing before the fi" 3331 i 
lowers his head almost to the ground, spreads out 
raises perpendicularly his tail, and half expands I 
wings. He then alternately and slowly raises and 1 
presses his body, so that the iridescent metallic featl 3 ® I 
are all seen at once, and glitter in the suu. 
Sufficient facts have now been given to shew " i 
b »I»I 
what care male birds display their various charms, 
this they do with the utmost skill. Whilst p 3 ’ eell ' | j< 
their feathers, they have frequent opportunities lo r 
their beauty. But as all the males of the same sp et 
miring themselves and of studying how best to eS 
display themselves in exactly the same 
bi 3 ^ 
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appears that actions, at first perhaps intentional, 
become instinctive. If so, we ought not to accuse 
of conscious vanity ; yet when we see a peacock stru 1 ^ 
about, with expanded and quivering tail-leathm'S, 
seems the very emblem of pride and vanity. 
The various ornaments possessed by the male® 
87 ‘ Birds of India,’ vol. ii. p. 96. 
