46 
HINTS ON CAGE-BIRDS. 
incorrectly described as regards the colouring of their soft parts, 
especially when these change with the season or with age. You 
will see adult Jays in museums stuffed and provided with blue 
eyes ; and some of the foreign pigeons which have plum-coloured 
eyes are provided with eyes of a hazel colour. Nor arc these errors 
confined to the staffed birds, but they appear in text-books for the 
instruction of the public. Until I kept the English Jay I believed 
the statement constantly repeated (and which, from lack of 
knowledge to the contrary, I repeated once again in “ British Birds, 
with their Nests and Eggs”) that the young had brown eyes, 
which became pale blue in the adult bird ; the reverse being the 
case, excepting that the eyes of adult birds are rather vinous than 
brown. 
Another point of interest is well worth putting on record — the 
manner in which the different birds court, their dances, postures, 
andmethods of showing off' to the hens.* These are most important 
to the taxidermist who wishes to produce a realistic group, and 
lack of knowledge often causes him to make ridiculous mistakes ; 
he is apt to suppose that all pigeons show off in the manner of the 
domesticated Rock - Pigeon; therefore when he mounts an 
Australian Crested Pigeon or a Bronzewing he puffs out the breast, 
sets the head forward as if bowing, spreads and elevates the tail, 
and droops the wings so that they touch the ground ; whereas the 
man who keeps these birds knows that the wings are half raised 
and expanded in front of the fan-like tail, so as to exhibit all their 
gorgeous metallic tints to the female. When birds are adorned 
with bright colours they are pretty certain to make the most of 
them for the delectation of their wives ; and if their colouring is 
not especially gorgeous they try to pleaso their partners by the 
most comical dances. The postures, wing-flappings, and lateral 
jumps of a Satin Bowerbird when courting are the most absurd 
exhibition imaginable. 
The changes in plumage and the manner in which they take 
place have frequently been incorrectly described; therefore, these 
should be most carefully studied. An American writer has asserted 
that a feather when once perfected is devoid of life, and therefore 
incapable of change, an assertion which is easy to disprove if you 
keep a yellow or grey Wagtail in a large cage throughout 
the winter and watch it ; or if you carefully note the changes 
which gradually take place in the plumage of many Finches, in 
some instances without the loss of a feather. 
The actions of birds when perching, progressing over the ground, 
eating or drinking, their- method of flight., and many other details 
of bird-life are well worthy of observation. 
* See pp. 10 and 43. 
