Remarks on Facial Expression of Birds 
147 
pression to a degree, though this is possibly a negligible mat- 
ter. Among the Cuckoos, which have lashes, the face is char- 
acterized by a somewhat mystical solemnity. The contrastingly 
colored lids in this case are of great importance. 
The matter of high lights on the eyes is interesting. The 
writer once crippled a Killdeer, and while it was yet living ob- 
served that in the outdoors at close range, almost the whole 
upper half of the eye was in high-light, and a vivid reflection 
of the landscape was apparent. Moreover, the high-light was 
much dimmer than usual — in fact several shades deeper than 
the white on the throat. The experience rather spoiled a the- 
ory held up till this event, namely, that the whitest white and 
deepest black on the bird always occurs in the eye. It seems 
that the deepest dark does occur in the eye; but as to the whitest 
white, — that is another matter. 
A word may well be said as to the practical methods of 
registering and noting the correct facial expression. Constant 
use of the camera is of course a splendid course to follow, but 
one finds use of the camera often impracticable, • and further- 
more, if it is desired to preserve the shades of color of the 
fleshy parts, water color sketches will best serve the purpose. 
Thus, when birds are shot, may their life colors be preserved, 
and the comparative distances of base of bill to eye, and con- 
tour of the feathers, be carefully noted and recorded. Later, 
then, with the use of a skin, some photographs perchance, illus- 
trating habitat, and the field sketches, may a final portrait of 
the bird be executed which may do at least a fair amount of 
justice to the subject. But better still is the detailed drawing 
or portrait from life. 
In the foregoing very much scattered remarks a mere hint 
at the scope of the subject has been given ; but it may suggest 
to some at least an interesting field of endeavor, and will form 
the basis of a plea for more accurate bird taxidermy, and re- 
doubled effort to make all bird portraits lifelike in every re- 
spect. Though the artist will forever cry that we must idealize 
and improve Nature, it may truly be said that Nature herself 
is so glorious that we would do well to be content in depicting 
her even as she is. 
