Note 1512 — Chapter XI · SEXUAL SELECTION AMONG ANIMALS

Mr. Belt (loc. cit. p. 112) has seen the female of Florisuga mellivora sitting quietly on a branch, and two males displaying their charms in front of her. ‘One would shoot up like a rocket, then suddenly expanding the snow-white tail like an inverted parachute, slowly descend in front of her, turning round gradually to show off both back and front.... The expanded white tail covered more space than all the rest of the bird, and was evidently the grand feature in the performance.'