Chap. XIV.] PREFERENCE BY THE FEMALE. 113 



cepted as readily as a male retaining all his natural orna- 

 ments. 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 union is by no means left to mere chance, for the fe- 

 male almost invariably prefers the most vigorous, defiant, 

 and mettlesome male ; hence it is almost useless, as he re 

 marks, " to attempt true breeding if a game-cock in good 

 health and condition runs the locality, for almost every 

 hen on leaving the roosting-place will resort to the game- 

 cock, even though that bird may not actually drive away 

 the male of her own variety." Under ordinary circum- 

 stances the males and females of the fowl seem to come to 

 a mutual understanding by means of certain gestures, 

 described to me by Mr. Brent. But hens will often avoid 

 the officious attentions of young males. Old hens, and 

 hens of a pugnacious disposition, as the same writer in- 

 forms me, dislike strange males, and will not yield until 

 well beaten into compliance. Ferguson, however, de- 

 scribes how a quarrelsome hen was subdued by the gentle 

 courtship of a Shanghai cock. 20 



There is reason to believe that pigeons of both sexes 

 prefer pairing with birds of the same breed ; and dove- 

 cot-pigeons dislike all the highly improved breeds. 21 Mr. 

 Harrison Weir has lately heard from a trustworthy ob- 

 server, who keeps blue pigeons, that these drive away all 

 other colored varieties, such as white, red, and yellow ; 

 and from another observer, that a female dun carrier 

 could not be matched, after repeated trials, with a black 

 male, but immediately paired with a dun. Generally col- 

 or alone appears to have little influence on the pairing of 

 pigeons. Mr. Tegetmeier, at my request, stained some 



20 'Rare and Prize Poultry,' 1854, p. 27. 



21 ' The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication,' vol. ii. 

 p. 103. 



