them if she made any great change in her dress. Audubon relates that he
reared and tamed a wild turkey which always ran away from any strange
dog; this bird escaped into the woods, and some days afterwards Audubon
saw, as he thought, a wild turkey, and made his dog chase it; but, to
his astonishment, the bird did not run away, and the dog, when he came
up, did not attack the bird, for they mutually recognised each other as
old friends. (14. Hewitt on wild ducks, Journal of Horticulture, Jan.
13, 1863, p. 39. Audubon on the wild turkey, Ornithological
Biography, vol. i. p. 14. On the mocking-thrush, ibid. vol. i. p.
110.)
Mr. Jenner Weir is convinced that birds pay particular attention to the
colours of other birds, sometimes out of jealousy, and sometimes as a
sign of kinship. Thus he turned a reed-bunting (Emberiza schoeniculus),
which had acquired its black head-dress, into his aviary, and the
new-comer was not noticed by any bird, except by a bullfinch, which is
likewise black-headed. This bullfinch was a very quiet bird, and had
never before quarrelled with any of its comrades, including another
reed-bunting, which had not as yet become black-headed: but the
reed-bunting with a black head was so unmercifully treated that it had
to be removed. Spiza cyanea, during the breeding-season, is of a bright
blue colour; and though generally peaceable, it attacked S. ciris,
which has only the head blue, and completely scalped the unfortunate
bird. Mr. Weir was also obliged to turn out a robin, as it fiercely
attacked all the birds in his aviary with any red in their plumage, but
no other kinds; it actually killed a red-breasted crossbill, and nearly
killed a goldfinch. On the other hand, he has observed that some birds,
when first introduced, fly towards the species which resemble them most
in colour, and settle by their sides.
As male birds display their fine plumage and other ornaments with so
much care before the females, it is obviously probable that these
appreciate the beauty of their suitors. It is, however, difficult to
obtain direct evidence of their capacity to appreciate beauty. When
birds gaze at themselves in a looking-glass (of which many instances
have been recorded) we cannot feel sure that it is not from jealousy of
a supposed rival, though this is not the conclusion of some observers.
In other cases it is difficult to distinguish between mere curiosity
and admiration. It is perhaps the former feeling which, as stated by
Lord Lilford (15. The Ibis, vol. ii. 1860, p. 344.), attracts the
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