Another result of their immunity from persecution
is the splendid colouring and strange and beautiful
feather ornaments distinguishing them above all other
birds; and excessive variation in this direction is
due, it seems to me, to the very causes which serve
to check variation in all other directions. In
their plumage, as Martin long ago wrote, nature has
strained at every variety of effect and revelled in
an infinitude of modifications. How wonderful
their garb is, with colours so varied, so intense,
yet seemingly so evanescent!—the glittering
mantle of powdered gold; the emerald green that changes
to velvet black; ruby reds and luminous scarlets;
dull bronze that brightens and burns like polished
brass, and pale neutral tints that kindle to rose and
lilac-coloured flame. And to the glory of prismatic
colouring are added feather decorations, such as the
racket-plumes and downy muffs of Spathura, the crest
and frills of Lophornis, the sapphire gorget burning
on the snow-white breast of Oreotrochilus, the fiery
tail of Cometes, and, amongst grotesque forms, the
long pointed crest-feathers, representing horns, and
flowing-white beard adorning the piebald goat-like
face of Oxypogon.
Excessive variation in this direction is checked in
nearly all other birds by the need of a protective
colouring, few kinds so greatly excelling in strength
and activity as to be able to maintain their existence
without it. Bright feathers constitute a double
danger, for not only do they render their possessor
conspicuous, but, just as the butterfly chooses the
gayest flower, so do hawks deliberately single out
from many obscure birds the one with brilliant plumage;
but the rapacious kinds do not waste their energies
in the vain pursuit of hummingbirds. These are
in the position of neutrals, free to range at will
amidst the combatants, insulting all alike, and flaunting
their splendid colours with impunity. They are
nature’s favourites, endowed with faculties
bordering on the miraculous, and all other kinds, gentle
or fierce, ask only to be left alone by them.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE CRESTED SCREAMER.
(Chalina chavarria.)
Amongst the feathered notables from all parts of the
world found gathered at the Zoological Gardens in
London is the Crested Screamer from South America.
It is in many respects a very singular species, and
its large size, great strength, and majestic demeanour,
with the surprising docility and intelligence it displays
when domesticated, give it a character amongst birds
somewhat like that of the elephant amongst mammals.
Briefly and roughly to describe it: in size it
is like a swan, in shape like a lapwing, only with
a powerful curved gallinaceous beak. It is adorned
with a long pointed crest and a black neck-ring, the
plumage being otherwise of a pale slaty blue, while
the legs and the naked skin about the eyes are bright
red. On each wing, in both sexes, there are two
Copyrights
The Naturalist in La Plata from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
