112 SEXUAL SELECTION: BIRDS. [Part II. 



parties of eight or ten or more males and females assem- 

 ble 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 care- 

 fully observed the wild flocks of Canada geese (Anser 

 Canadensis), and gives a graphic description of theii 

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

 viously mated " renewed their courtship as early as the 

 month of January, while the others would be contend- 

 ing or coquetting for hours every day, until all seemed 

 satisfied with the choice they had made, after which, al- 

 though 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." 19 Manv similar statements, with 

 respect to other birds could be cited. from this same ob- 

 server. 



Turning now to domesticated and confined birds, I 

 will commence by giving what little I have learned re- 

 specting the courtship of fowls. I have received long let- 

 ters on this subject from Messrs. Hewitt and Tegetmeier, 

 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 expe- 

 rienced observers. They do not believe that the females 

 prefer certain males on account of the beauty of their plu- 

 mage ; but some allowance must be made for the artificial 

 state under which they have long been kept. Mr. Teget- 

 meier is convinced that a game-cock, though disfigured 

 by being dubbed with his hackles trimmed, would be ac- 



19 Audubon, ' Ornitholog. Biography,' vol. i. pp. 191, 349 ; vol. ii. pp. 

 42, 215 ; vol. iii. p. 2. 



