New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-09

disnav their ornaments when not in the presence Oh
tbo forolo "a may be noticed with the peacock VINO
olvavs wishes for n spectatOr of some klhd anu VIM
b,, OF bis 6nerv before poultry, ana even pcioio
| nps Rut all naturasts agree ',''' me-
| whether in n state of nature OF unu
deI;gbt IN display their beautiiui pi"in'so -
| to foscinate and attract the fehaie'
Tho case of the Argus pheasant "iicn Is
favorite subject for illustration WIN 'nc ""'nol
presents n striking example In support VI 'S
~ 49, bird the secondary wing feathers which are
III ' e5 % The male are immensely developed ana
-..,orted with row of ocel more than twenty
" Lor and each above inch in diameter
IN Gathers are elegantly marked with oblque
All stripes and rows of spots like those on inc Skin
90 tiger and leopard combined. The ocell arc 80
beautifully shaded that they stand out Ike 'aii
| living loosely within socket The primary wing
feathers in this bird not less remarkable opcts
than the secondary wing-feathers. lhey are vi
soft brown tint with numerousI dark spots each Oh
which consists of two or three black dots with a
surrounding dark zone. But the chief ornament Is
SPACE parallel to the darkblue shaft which III out
line forms a perfect second feather lying
within the true feather. This inner part
is coored of lighter chestnut and is thckly dotted
with minute white points. These feathers are en-
trely concealed on all ordinary occasions but are
are erected though in different manner. Mr.. Oar
win attaches particular importance TO these features
in the male of the Argus pheasant, because they
afford good evidence that the most refined beauty
NAV serve as a charm the female, and for no other
| purpose This is shown by the fact that the
| primary wing-feathers are never displayed and the
ornaments not exhibited III full per-
| fection except in the season of courtship As the
Argus pheasant does not possess brilliant coloTs ms
success i'll courtship appears to have depended
| on the great size Of his plumes and on
| the elaboration of the most elegant patterns
1t may appear incredible, the author remarks that
| a female bird should be able to appreciate
fine shadings and elegant patterns, eyincing an
! almost human degree of taste, though perhaps she
admres the general effect rather than each separate
detail But if it be denied that she can appreciate
such refined beauty, it follows that the extraordinary
| attitudes assumed by the male during the act OF
| courtship, by which the marvellous beauty OF ms
punage is fully displayed, are without any purpose
"a conclusion, says Mr., Darwin, which he for one
will never admit
| As male birds display their decorations with so
| much care in the presence of the females, 1t can
hardly be doubted that these appreciate the beauty
| of their suitOrs. The most acute observers oi
the habits of birds in their native forests declare
| that the female deliberately chooses her mate.
| Thus Audubon, speaking of the woodpecker,
| saws the hen is followed by a half dozen
| gay suitors WHO'D continue performing their
| Whimsical antics, "until marked preference IL
shown for one" The female of the red-winged star
ling is likewise pursued by several males, until be-
coming fatiged she aghts receives their addresses
| and soon makes a choice" He describes also how
several male night-iars repeatedly plunge rapidly
through the air. suddenly turning, and thus making
hut, hasf bp le
her choice, than the other males driven away"
Instances are given by other naturasts, of the fe-
| male bird disowning the male, when robbed of the
long tai feathers with which he is ornamented dur
| ing the breeding season. 1t is stated among other
cases that male silver-pheasant who had been tr-
umphant over the other males, and was the accepted
| lover of the females, had his ornamental plumage
spoiled, when he was Immediately superseded by a
rival who afterward led the flock.
After bringing forward copious array Of facts as
verified by turasts and travellers in every part of
the globe, Mr.. Darwin thus sums up the evidence
with regard TO birds They possess acute powers of
! observation. They seem To have certain degree of
taste for the beautiful both in color and sound The
females occasionally exhibit, from unknown causes
the strongest antipathes and preferences for par
ticulaT males. When the differ i'll color OF in
other ornaments the males with rare exceptions are
the most highly decorated. They display their yar-
OILS ornaments exert their voices and perform gro
teSGue antics, in the presence of the females. Even
| well-aTmed males who it might he thought would
have depended for success the law Of battle
arc in most cases highly Ornamentcd; and
their ornaments have been acquired at the
| expense of some loss of power or AT the
cost Of increased risk from birds and beasts Of prey
| With various species, many individuals congrecate
at the same spot and pursue protracted conrtship
| az that tlp
the same district do not always succeed in pleasing
each other, and becoming mates. From all these
considerations we may conclude that the pairing of
birds is not left to chance but that those males
accepted which are best able by their yarious
charms to fascinate the female. Hence, it may be
understood how male birds have gradually acquired
their ornamental characters. The preference by the
female Of the more attractive males would lead to
| their notification and such notifications, in the
course of time, might DO augmented to almost any
extent compatible with the existence Of the species.
We can merely glance at Mr.. Darwins discussion
of the habits Of mammals, with which the male ap-
pears to win the female through the law of battle
rather than through the display of his charms. The
most timid animals engage III desperate conflicts
during the season of love- Two male hares have
been seen to fight together until one was killed male
moles often fight with fatal results; squirrels
! gage in frequent contests and often wound each
other severely; as also do beavers so that hardly
| skin is without scars. Livingstone speaks of the
males of the many animals in South Africa
almost invariably showing the scars received in for
mer contests. The law Of battle prevails with
aquatic as well as with terrestrial animals. 1t is
well known how desperately male seals fight during
| the breeding season. and their hides are likewise
often covered with scars. All male animals which
|