Chap. XIV. PREFERENCE BY THE FEMALE. 117 



" ing or coquetting for hours every day, until all seemed 

 '• satisfied with the choice they had made, after which, 

 " although they remained together, any person could 

 " easily perceive that they were careful to keep in pairs. 

 *■ I have observed also that the older the birds, the 

 "shorter were the preliminaries of their courtship. 

 " The bachelors and old maids, whether in regret, or 

 " not caring to be disturbed by the bustle, quietly 

 " moved aside and lay down at some distance from the 

 " rest."^^ Many similar statements with respect to other 

 birds could be cited from this same observer. 



Turning now to domesticated and confined birds, I 

 will commence by giving what little I have learnt re- 

 specting the courtship of fowds. I have received long 

 letters on this subject from Messrs. Hewitt and Teget- 

 raeier, and almost an essay from the late Mr. Brent. 

 It will be admitted by every one that these gentlemen, 

 so well known from their published works, are careful 

 and experienced obse^rvers. They do not believe that the 

 females prefer certain males on account of the beauty of 

 their plumage ; but some allowance must be made for 

 the artificial state under which thev have lonfy been 

 kept. Mr. Tegetmeier is convinced that a game-cock, 

 though disfigured by being dubbed with his hackles 

 trimmed, would be accepted as readily as a male retain- 

 ing all his natural ornaments. Mr. Brent, however, 

 admits that the beauty of the male probably aids in 

 exciting the female ; and her acquiescence is necessary. 

 Mr. Hewitt is convinced that the junion is by no means 

 left to mere chance, for the female almost invariably 

 prefers the most vigorous, defiant, and mettlesome male ; 

 hence it is almost useless, as he remarks, ^' to attempt 



13 Audubon, ♦ Ornitliolog. Bi ;grapliy,' vol. i, p. 191, 349 ; vol. ii. p. 42, 

 275 ; vol. iii. p. 2. 



