116 SEXUAL SELECTION : BIRDS. Part IL 



to : but in many of these cases the birds were allowed 

 to range freely over large ponds, and there is no reason 

 to suppose that they were unnaturally stimulated by 

 high feeding. 



With respect to birds in a state of nature, the first 

 and most obvious supposition which will occur to every- 

 one is that the female at the proper season accepts the 

 first male whom she may encounter; bnt she has at 

 least the opportunity for exerting a choice, as she is 

 almost invariably pursued by many males. Audubon 

 — and we must remember that he spent a long life in 

 prowling about the forests of the United States and 

 observing the birds — does not doubt that the female 

 deliberately chooses her mate ; thus, speaking of a wood- 

 pecker, he says the hen is followed by half-a-dozen gay 

 suitors, who continue performing strange antics, " until 

 " a marked preference is shewn for one." The female of 

 tlie red-winged starling (Agel^us ^hoeniceus) is likewise 

 pursued by several males, " until, becoming fatigued, 

 " she alights, receives their addresses, and soon makes 

 " a choice." He describes also how several male nio-ht- 

 jars repeatedly plunge through the air with astonish- 

 ing rapidity, suddenly turning, and thus making a 

 singular noise ; " but no sooner has the female made 

 " her choice, than the other males are driven away." 

 With one of the vultures (Cathartes aura) of the United 

 States, parties of eight or ten or more males and females 

 assemble on fallen logs, " exhibiting the strongest desire 

 *' to please mutually," and after many caresses, each male 

 leads off his partner on the wing. Audubon likewise 

 carefully observed the wild flocks of Canada geese (Anser 

 Canadensis), and gives a graphic description of their 

 love-antics ; he says that the birds wdiich had been pre- 

 viously mated " renewed their courtship as early as the 

 *' mouth of January, while the others would be contend- 



