The Descent of Man

once than otherwise would be the case. At the
same time he twists and bows his black tail
from side to side in a ludicrous manner. The
male chaffinch also stands in front of the female,
thus shewing his red breast and "blue bell,"
as the fanciers call his head; the wings at the
same time being slightly expanded, with the
pure white bands on the shoulders thus rendered
conspicuous. The common linnet distends
his rosy breast, slightly expands his brown
wings and tail, so as to make the best of them
by exhibiting their white edgings. We must,
however, be cautious in concluding that the
wings are spread out solely for display, as some
birds do so whose wings are not beautiful. This
is the case with the domestic cock, but it is always
the wing on the side opposite to the female
which is expanded, and at the same time
scraped on the ground. The male goldfinch
behaves differently from all other finches: his
wings are beautiful, the shoulders being black,
with the dark-tipped wing-feathers spotted