Pennant.)
I have somewhat to advance on the different manners in which
different birds fly and walk; but as this is a subject that I have not
enough considered, and is of such a nature as not to be contained in
a small space, I shall say nothing farther about it at present.*
(* See Letter XLIII to Mr. Barrington.)
No doubt the reason why the sex of birds in their first plumage is
so difficult to be distinguished is, as you say, 'because they are not
to pair and discharge their parental functions till the ensuing
spring.' As colours seem to be the chief external sexual distinction
in many birds, these colours do not take place till sexual
attachments begin to obtain. And the case is the same in
quadrupeds; among whom, in their younger days, the sexes differ
but little: but, as they advance to maturity, horns and shaggy
manes, beards and brawny necks, etc., etc., strongly discriminate
the male from the female. We may instance still farther in our own
species, where a beard and stronger features are usually
characteristic of the male sex: but this sexual diversity does not
take place in earlier life; for a beautiful youth shall be so like a
beautiful girl that the difference shall not be discernible:
Quem si puellarum insereres choro,
Mire sagaces falleret hospites
Discrimen obscurum, solutis
Crinibus, ambiguoque vultu.
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