416 Tlie Descent of Man. Part II. 



of the hybrid unions above mentioned ; but in many of these 

 cases the birds were allowed to range freely over large ponds, 

 and there is no reason to suppose that they were unnaturally 

 stimulated by high feeding. 



With respect to birds in a state of nature, the first and most 

 obvious supposition which will occur to every one is that the 

 female at the proper season accepts the first male whom she 

 may encounter ; but she has at least the opportunity for exerting 

 a choice, as she is almost invariably pursued by many males. 

 Audubon— and we must remember that he spent a long . life in 

 prowling about the forests of the United States and observing 

 the birds — does not doubt that the female deliberately chooses 

 her mate ; thus, speaking of a woodpecker, he says the hen is 

 followed by half-a-dozen gay suitors, who continue performing 

 strange antics, " until a marked preference is shewn for one."' 

 The female of the red- winged starling (Agelxus phceniceus) is 

 likewise pursued by several males, " until, becoming fatigued, 

 " she alights, receives their addresses, and soon makes a choice." 

 He describes also how several male night-jars repeatedly plunge 

 through the air with astonishing rapidity, suddenly turning, and 

 thus making a singular noise ; " but no sooner has the female 

 " made her choice, than the other males are driven away." 

 With one of the vultures (Cathartes aura) of the United States, 

 parties of eight, ten, or more males and females assemble 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 carefully observed the wild flocks of 

 Canada geese (Anser canadensis), and gives a graphic description 

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

 previously mated "renewed their courtship as early as the 

 " month of January, while the others would be contending or 

 " coquetting for hours every day, until all seemed satisfied with 

 " the choice they had made, after which, although they re- 

 " mained 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." 20 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 respecting the 



20 Audubon ' Ornitholog. Biography,' vol. i. pp. 191, 349 ; vol. ii. pp. 42, 

 275 ; vol. iii. p. 2. 



