112 
SEXUAL SELECTION : BIRDS. 
PA* 1 ' 
Ml 
“ shots.” The common lark is drawn down from 1 
sky, and is caught in large numbers, by a small m ,r ; 
made to move and glitter in the sun. Is it admin 1 ' 1 ' 
or curiosity which leads the magpie, raven, and s ° ^ 
other birds to steal and secrete bright objects, sud 1 
silver articles or jewels ? 
Mr. Gould states that certain humming-birds d e ; 
rate the outside of their nests, “ with the utmost t»®^ 
“they instinctively fasten thereon beautiful pie^ 3 .., 1 
“ Hat lichen, the larger pieces in the middle, and ; 
“ smaller on the part attached to the branch. P j 
“ and then a pretty feather is intertwined or fast eI * j 
“ to the outer sides, the stem being always so 
“ that the feather stands out beyond the surface.” j - 
best evidence, however, of a taste for the beaut if u ; 
afforded by the three genera of Australian bowef"h>' 
already mentioned. Their bowers (see fig. 46, [»• 1 . 
where the sexes congregate and play strange antics,- ' ^ 
differently constructed, but what most concerns us is > 1 j 
they are decorated in a different manner by the sef £ 'j 
species. The Satin bower-bird collects gaily-cok 0 ’ 
articles, such as the blue tail-feathers of parrakc' , 
bleached bones and shells, which it sticks between 1 j 
twigs, or arranges at the entrance. Mr. Gould f° ll \ 
in one bower a neatly-worked stone tomahawk al1 . ... 
n< 
f id* 
slip of blue cotton, evidently procured from, a 
encampment. These objects are continually rearraWrj 
and carried about by the birds whilst at play- 
bower of the Spotted bower-bird “ is beautifully 
“ with tall grasses, so disposed that the heads 
“ meet, and the decorations are very profuse.” P® 11 
stones are used to keep the grass-stems in their p r °jj |f 
places, and to make divergent paths leading to . 
bower. The stones and shells are often brought h 
a great distance. The Eegent bird, as describe^ 
