. The bird; its form and function . ^ weaken its flight, as regardssteering capacity; since the open-work mesh of the vanescan offer no resistance to the air. Indeed it is said ofthis bird that it is such a poor flier that it is seldom seenon the wing, but it runs rapidly and is able to leap intothe lower branches of trees. The penalty of danger fromweakened flight which the Emeu-wren must pay for hiscaudal decoration is paralleled by certain little whydah-finches of Africa, the males of which at the breedingseason are decorated with several tail-feathers over five 4i6 The Bird times as long a
. The bird; its form and function . ^ weaken its flight, as regardssteering capacity; since the open-work mesh of the vanescan offer no resistance to the air. Indeed it is said ofthis bird that it is such a poor flier that it is seldom seenon the wing, but it runs rapidly and is able to leap intothe lower branches of trees. The penalty of danger fromweakened flight which the Emeu-wren must pay for hiscaudal decoration is paralleled by certain little whydah-finches of Africa, the males of which at the breedingseason are decorated with several tail-feathers over five 4i6 The Bird times as long as their tiny bodies. When a heavy dewfalls during the night, drenching the plumage of thesebirds, they become helpless and quite unable to fly. Atsuch times many are killed by their natural enemies;and such indeed is their helplessness, brought about by. Fig. 331.—Male Paradise Whydah-bird showing tail. this excess of nuptial dress, that a person can pick themup in the hand without difficulty. The beautiful tails of pheasants are in harmony withthe wealth of colour which many of these birds displayupon other parts of the body; the long graceful tail of theReeves being especially striking. The folded, roof-shaped tail of the common rooster,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1906
