. The bird; its form and function . -, we findbeautiful decorations upon the wdngs—inexplicable unlesswe are willing to credit the females wdth appreciation of^or at least a reaction to, these beauties. Otherwise weknow not the uses of the brilliant wing-mirrors of ducks,or the scarlet wax-like tips of the Cedar-birds feathers. Wings 349 or the bizarre decoration of the Twelve-wired Bird ofParadise. A strange appendage is found in the wing of the WestAfrican Goatsucker. Conspicuous enough when the birdis flying, it is wonderfully protected when the bird rests,. Fig. 280.—wing of Woodcock. as i
. The bird; its form and function . -, we findbeautiful decorations upon the wdngs—inexplicable unlesswe are willing to credit the females wdth appreciation of^or at least a reaction to, these beauties. Otherwise weknow not the uses of the brilliant wing-mirrors of ducks,or the scarlet wax-like tips of the Cedar-birds feathers. Wings 349 or the bizarre decoration of the Twelve-wired Bird ofParadise. A strange appendage is found in the wing of the WestAfrican Goatsucker. Conspicuous enough when the birdis flying, it is wonderfully protected when the bird rests,. Fig. 280.—wing of Woodcock. as is its wont, upon the ground among tall, feathery-topped grasses. From each wing a single long featherextends in an upward direction, almost bare of barbsfor most of its length, but tipped with a mottled, loose-vaned tuft which corresponds very perfectly with theflower-heads of the grasses among which it lives. As 35° The Bird this decoration, so protective and yet so beautiful, isassumed only during the breeding season, its use is doubt-less to aid in attracting the attention of the females. Herons and other birds make still another use of theirwings and the long, tough flight-feathers: as shields forparrying the blows of a rival, or to catch the poison ofa snake when it strikes and thus give an opportunityto seize and despatch the reptile. Two Snowy Egretswill sometimes fence with each other in play, and usebeak and wing as a soldier would use sword and once saw the wing of a bird used in an entirely originalmanner—a use peculiar, doubtle
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1906
