RTTPP 51 



of man, owing to the fact that no shooting is permitted during the 

 breeding season. On April 14 a single male was disturbed by Selous 

 from the " hill " at 7 a. m. and did not return, but on the next day a 

 flock of eight or nine birds arrived and at once began to fight, but 

 not on the " hill." It soon became evident that in order to be in 

 place before the arrival of the birds it was necessary to get into 

 hiding before dawn. By April 16 the " hill " was in regular use, 

 each male resorting to the same stand and sitting there, from time 

 to time rising and making a slight demonstration with erected tufts 

 and ruff, sometimes followed by a slight sparring match with one 

 of the other males, but when not engaged in fighting spending the 

 time quite amicably side by side, in some cases almost touching. In 

 the afternoon a similar state of things prevailed, but the proceedings 

 were quieter and more subdued. When sparring the birds " would 

 rush and leap high into the air against each other, rushing away and 

 not leaping again as they came down," and this activity was gen- 

 erally more pronounced when a reeve appeared on the ground. The 

 other birds on occasions of this kind also rushed about in wild, 

 excitement, suddenly pulling themselves up with the head extended 

 forward and remaining in this position motionless, perhaps then 

 rushing in another direction and then gradually sinking down 

 quickly. When a reeve arrived at the "hill," where perhaps a 

 dozen males were present, after the first wave of excitement had 

 passed she would thread her way among the ruffs, which as she 

 approached sank down to the ground by her side with bowed head. 

 Her preference for one particular male was shown by halting at 

 his side and gently nibbling with her bill the feathers at the back 

 of his neck. If copulation followed, there was no interference on 

 the part of the other males present, except perhaps occasionally by 

 accident in the course of excited running to and fro. 



After persistent watching it became evident that the attentions of 

 the reeves were very unevenly distributed among the regular habitues 

 of the " hill." There were two conspicuously handsome males — one a 

 bird with a golden-brown ruff and the other with a blue-black one — 

 and these two seemed to be selected far more frequently than the 

 other ruffs. The few attempts made by males to force the compliance 

 of the female were quite unsuccessful. Perhaps it is due to this that 

 attempts to pair between two male birds frequently took place and, 

 strange to relate, even between two reeves also. Selection on the part 

 of the hen birds apparently bore no relation to the fighting powers of 

 the male, although one serious fight, which lasted some three or four 

 minutes, took place, during which the two birds concerned fought like 

 demons, but finally ceased by mutual consent. The two selected birds 

 were, however, certainly among the finest and handsomest })irds on 



