THE FASTING PERIOD 



Although squabbles and encounters had been 

 frequent since their arrival in any numbers, it now 

 became manifest that there were two very different 

 types of battle ; first, the ordinary quarrelling con- 

 sequent on disputes over nests and the robbery of 

 stones from these, and secondly, the battles between 

 cocks who fought for the hens. These last were 

 more earnest and severe, and were carried to a 

 finish, whereas the first named rarely proceeded to 

 extremes. 



In regard to the mating of the birds, the following 

 most interesting customs seemed to be prevalent. 



The hen would establish herself on an old nest, or 

 in some cases scoop out a hollow in the ground and 

 sit in or by this, waiting for a mate to propose 

 himself. (Fig. 26.) She would not attempt to 

 build while she remained unmated. During the 

 first week of the nesting season, when plenty of 

 fresh arrivals were continually pouring into the 

 rookery, she did not have long to wait as a rule. 

 Later, when the rookery was getting filled up, 

 and only a few birds remained unmated in that 

 vast crowd of some three-quarters of a million, her 

 chances were not so good. 



For example, on November 16 on a knoll thickly 

 populated by mated birds, many of which already 



35 



