AUTUMN DISPLAYS IN OUR BRITISH BIRDS 267 



and uttering its note at short intervals ; another which 

 was near took little notice of the performance. A good 

 instance of autumn display was seen on 17th November 1912 

 when a Wren pursued another for some time, then, crouching 

 before it, extended its wings, fanned out its tail. which showed 

 very ruddy, and uttered its song repeatedly. This was 

 repeated several times. 



Duck seem much given to autumn display, though, as far 

 as we have seen, it is lacking in fervour compared to the 

 spring antics. On 25th October 1905 we watched Mallard 

 near Largo ; the drakes flirted up their tails and dipped 

 their beaks in the water, then they sat up on their tails and 

 tucked their beaks close into the breast ; after this they 

 slowly elevated their heads, elongating the body at the same 

 time, and uttered a deep sounding, guttural " goo." They 

 then swam with their heads stretched out nearly flat on the 

 water, while the ducks took no interest or part in these 

 movements. This display was again seen on 1 ith November 

 1906. Mr Wormald says {Joe. at.): "Adult Mallards com- 

 mence 'displaying' in October so soon as their winter- 

 plumage is complete, and I have seen them ' display ' when 

 in full eclipse-plumage ! Immature drakes begin to ' display ' 

 about the same time, even before they are in full winter- 

 dress." 



We have frequently seen Eider displaying in October 

 and once in January ; in all cases these were modified forms 

 of the courting antics which we have often watched in spring. 

 The following is a typical instance : 1st October 1908, Isle of 

 May. " A very large flock of Eider ; birds had come in since 

 yesterday. The new arrivals included several full-plumaged 

 males, and a lot of grunting and cooing was going on. 

 The males threw back their heads, elevated their beaks, and 

 cooed vigorously ; one male kept turning his head first to one 

 side and then to the other for quite a long time. The 

 grunting seemed to be done with the head held down, only 

 the cooing note being uttered with elevated bill. Some of 

 the males had lovely blush-pink on their breasts, which was 

 clearly seen when the display was taking place." The ducks 

 took no part in this performance, and we never heard the 



