Chap. XIV. Length of Courtship. 405 



more difficult to decide what qualities determine the choice of the 

 females ; but here again we have some direct and. indirect evi- 

 dence that it is to a large extent the external attractions of the 

 male ; though no doubt his vigour, courage, and other mental 

 qualities come into play. "We will begin with the indirect evidence. 

 Length of Courtship. — The lengthened period during which 

 both sexes of certain birds meet day after day at an appointed 

 place probably depends partly on the courtship being a pro- 

 longed affair, and partly on reiteration in the act of pairing. 

 Thus in Germany and Scandinavia the balzing or leks of the 

 black-cocks last from the middle of March, all through April 

 into May. As many as forty or fifty, or even more birds con- 

 gregate at the leks; and the same place is often frequented 

 during successive years. The lek of the capercailzie lasts from 

 the end of March to the middle or even end of May. In North 

 America "the partridge dances" of the Tctrao phasimiellm 

 " last for a month or more." Other kinds of grouse, both in 

 North America and Eastern Siberia, 1 follow nearly the same 

 habits. The fowlers discover the hillocks where the ruffs con- 

 gregate by the grass being trampled bare, and this shews that 

 the same spot is long frequented. The Indians of Guiana are 

 well acquainted with the cleared arenas, where they expect to 

 find the beautiful cocks of the Eock ; and the natives of New 

 Guinea know the trees where from ten to twenty male birds of 

 paradise in full plumage congregate. In this latter case it is 

 not expressly stated that the females meet on -the same trees, but 

 the hunters, if not specially asked, would probably not mention 

 their presence, as their skins are valueless. Small parties of an 

 African weaver (Ploceus) congregate, during the breeding-season, 

 and perform for hours their graceful evolutions. Large numbers 

 of the Solitary snipe (Scoiopax major) assemble during dusk in 

 a morass ; and the same place is frequented for the same purpose 

 during successive years ; here they may be seen running about 

 " like so many large rats," puffing out their feathers, flapping 

 their wings, and uttering the strangest cries. 2 



1 Nordman describes (' Bull. Soc. of the above named grouse see 

 Imp. des Nat. Moscou,' 1861, torn. Brehm, ' Tjhierleben,' B. iv. s. 350; 

 xxxiv. p. 264) the balzen of Tetrao also L. Lloyd, * Game Birds of 

 wof/alloides in Amur Land. He Sweden,' 1867, pp. 19, 78. Richard- 

 estimated the number of birds son, ' Fauna Bor. Americana,' Birds, 

 assembled at above a hundred, not p. 362. References in regard to the 

 tounting the females, which lie hid assemblages of other birds have 

 in the surrounding bushes. The already been given. On Paradises 

 noises uttered differ from those of see Wallace, in 'Annals and Mag, 

 T. urogallus. of Nat. Hist.' vol. xx. 1857, p. 412 



2 With respect to the assemblages On the snipe, Lloyd, ibid. p. 221. 



