Chap. XIII.] LAW OF BATTLE. 47 



combatants. But in some cases the pairing precedes in- 

 stead of succeeding the combat : thus, according to Audu- 

 bon, 21 several males of the Virginian goat-sucker (Ccqni- 

 miilgns Virginianus) "court, in a highly-entertaining 

 manner, the female, and no sooner has she made her 

 choice, than her approved gives chase to all intruders, 

 and drives them beyond his dominions." Generally the 

 males try with all their power to drive away or kill their 

 rivals before they pair. It does not, however, appear that 

 the females invariably prefer the victorious males. I have 

 indeed been assured by M. W. Kowalevsky that the female 

 capercailzie sometimes steals away with a young male who 

 has not dared to enter the arena with the older cocks ; in 

 the same manner as occasionally happens with the does 

 of the red-deer in Scotland. When two males contend in 

 presence of a single female, the victor, no doubt, common- 

 ly gains his desire ; but some of these battles are caused 

 by wandering males trying to distract the peace of an al- 

 ready mated pair. 22 



Even with the most pugnacious species it is probable 

 that the pairing does not depend exclusiv ely on the mere 

 strength and courage of the male : for such males" are gen- 

 erally decorated with various ornaments, which often 

 become more brilliant during the breeding-season, and 

 which are sedulously displayed before the females. The 

 males also endeavor to charm or excite their ^mates by 

 love-notes, songs, and 'antics; and the courtship is, in 

 many instances, a prolonged affair. Hence it is not prob- 

 able that the females are indifferent to the charms of the 

 opposite sex, or that they are invariably compelled to 



known to'be the case with the gray-hens in Scandinavia, and with other 

 species in North America. 



21 ' Ornithological Biography,' vol. ii. p. 2*75. 



22 Brehni, ' Thierleben,' etc., B. iv. 1867, p. 990. Audubon, 'Ornith. 

 Biography,' vol. ii. p. 492. 



