DISPLAY OF THE MALLARD IN RELATION TO PAIRING 81 



rarely in the first instance more than a generalised aspect, 

 having no necessary reference to individuals of the opposite 

 sex. That is to say, they are primarily subjective and 

 responsive, rather than objective and initiative, and are 

 merely the outward expression of certain forms of nervous 

 stimulus, apparently without definite relation to the specific 

 desire of securing mates. Nevertheless it is already clear at 

 this stage that the attraction which a duck exerts on the 

 surrounding drakes is in direct proportion to her exhibition 

 of display, and inverse to her indifference as shown in 

 passivity of behaviour. During such moments of emotional 

 stimulation the ducks pass rapidly in and out amongst the 

 drakes, at first in an indeterminate fashion, but sooner or 

 later the movement is terminated by courtship of individual 

 drakes, whereby is introduced the second phase in the 

 procedure ; this courtship, however, may also be initiated 

 without preliminary display. In courtship the duck- 

 singles out a drake from amongst those surrounding 

 her, and pursues him for some distance, dipping the bill 

 rapidly and repeatedly backwards and downwards to one or 

 other side of the body, accompanying the movement with 

 a short staccato note characteristic of the occasion. Other 

 drakes who may come in the way she dismisses by side- 

 thrusts of the bill as she passes them a repulse unreservedly 

 accepted by the drakes, who immediately give way before 

 such demonstration. The behaviour of the courted drake is 

 rather curious. In place of accepting with eagerness or 

 gratification the advances of the duck, he invariably retires, 

 and continues to retreat so long as the gesticulating female 

 follows. On her desisting, however, he shows a tendency, 

 varying in definiteness, to attend her as she turns aside to 

 feed or otherwise employ herself. It may be that his object 

 in retreating is less with the desire of avoiding what he 

 considers a superfluous expression of affection, than with a 

 view to withdrawing her from the flock, a feature of behaviour 

 which seems to be paralleled in some degree in the Partridge 

 covey, during the pairing season. The two birds involved 

 the retreating drake and the pursuing duck are commonly 

 attended and followed by one or several attracted drakes. It 

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