COURTSHIP AND SEX 185 



perhaps there is not much more than fun in many episodes 

 of this sort. 



" Two redshanks, after pairing, run in an excited and 

 curious-looking manner, over the sand, following one 

 another " (Selous, 1906). There is similar behaviour in 

 avocets and peewits. Perhaps it is of the nature of a display ; 

 perhaps it is a means of riveting bonds of comradeship. 



In regard to the Redshank, the following description is 

 given by Selous (1906) : " The male, advancing to within 

 some two feet of the female, continually waved and fluttered 

 his wings above his back, holding them well aloft, whilst, all 

 the while, uttering a little tremulous note, and nervously 

 moving his red shanks. He did this for a considerable time — 

 perhaps a minute — the effect, of course, being very striking ; 

 and then, rising on the wing, fluttered, for a little, just over, 

 and about a foot above, her, before dropping down for the 

 actual performance of the rite." As a matter of fact, as 

 Mr. Selous points out, the m.ale is rather behind than in front 

 of the female, but " his waved wings are, so to speak, all 

 about him," and " with an eye on each side of her small 

 head, the slightest turn of this — and it is always in motion — 

 would enable her to see the whole person of the male." 

 There can be no doubt that she sometimes seenis to be 

 interested in the male's display of his white tail, of the 

 silvery grey under-surface of the wings, and of the coral- 

 like legs, and that in other cases she is more indifi^erent 

 although the display is equally effective. There can be 

 little doubt that the male is seeking to excite her sex- 

 interest in him. 



Evidence of active interest on the female's part is of 

 importance. Selous (1906) describes the hen Kentish 

 Plover's participation in the combats of rival males : " She 

 was not satisfied with being a witness of the scene ; she took 

 upon several occasions — perhaps a dozen — an active part 

 in it. Running down to where the two were contending, she 

 made little flies to one or another of them, but whether to 

 both, or one only, or one more especially, I cannot say. The 

 effect of these approaches, on the two males, was always to 



