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The Descent of Man

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finement in the Malay Archipelago, are said to<br />

take much care in keeping their feathers clean;<br />

<strong>of</strong>ten spreading them out, examining them, and<br />

removing every speck <strong>of</strong> dirt. One observer,<br />

who kept several pairs alive, did not doubt that<br />

the display <strong>of</strong> the male was intended to please<br />

the female. (88. 'Annals and Mag. <strong>of</strong> Nat. Hist.'<br />

vol. xiii. 1854, p. 157; also Wallace, ibid. vol. xx.<br />

1857, p. 412, and '<strong>The</strong> Malay Archipelago,' vol.<br />

ii. 1869, p. 252. Also Dr. Bennett, as quoted by<br />

Brehm, 'Thierleben,' B. iii. s. 326.)<br />

[Fig. 51. Polyplectron chinquis, male (T.W.<br />

Wood).]<br />

<strong>The</strong> Gold and Amherst pheasants during their<br />

courtship not only expand and raise their<br />

splendid frills, but twist them, as I have myself<br />

seen, obliquely towards the female on whichever<br />

side she may be standing, obviously in order<br />

that a large surface may be displayed before<br />

her. (89. Mr. T.W. Wood has given ('<strong>The</strong> Student,'<br />

April 1870, p. 115) a full account <strong>of</strong> this

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