"Oh, yes, yes. You know, in my native country in the planet Earth only women are fond of and use such gaudy colors and such kind of stockings; and, indeed, they are only proper for women. But we used to——"
"But that's not all here; the worst is when these people use stockings—as I have had occasion to notice many times—stockings which are elaborately ornamented with the queerest fantastic designs; such as a burning dainty heart, a dove carrying a bunch of dama de noche with its toes—rather, a falcon or vulture I should say—great goodness!—make the dove carry a flower in its claws!"
"Aha, is that so? Why, thanks to goodness, in my native land no such queer people are to be found now, except very, very few. There used to be—but do you know what we call them in pure, simple Tagalog? We call them binabae; that is a bit worse than the English term 'sissy.' But from your own experience, tell me, Islao, what living being other than man have you observed making such a liberal display of gaudy colors in that most affected manner?"
"Why, among plants you mean? Like the parasite with beautifully colored flowers hanging on that window?"
"Well, not so low in the organic world as that," laughing heartily. "I don't mean a plant; I mean——"
"Oh, I get your point. You mean among birds like the gayly colored rooster of that man who is now hawking in that store, don't you?"
"Exactly, upon my wish, you have slipped from your tongue what I was precisely going to say."
"And I think you know why the birds, most especially the males, do have such bright colors."