i86 THE BIOLOGY OF BIRDS 



make them more bellicose. ... A third male was seen 

 approaching, and, after a while, he entered into the area of 

 the conflict, with a view, as it seemed, of joining in it." The 

 hen bird flew at this intruder persistently and finally drove 

 him off. It may be, as Selous says, that the female considers 

 two rivals as the proper number. He suggests that this may 

 have some bearing on the common sight, in spring-time, of 

 three birds, and no more, flying together — three larks, three 

 meadow-pipits, three peewits, three oyster-catchers, and so 

 on. " Also, if we think of the female bird as able and 

 ready, on occasion, to drive off any male, vi et armis, we shall 

 the less easily regard her as the mere passive submitter to 

 the male's superior force." 



Mr. Selous (1906) points out that the male redshank's 

 banner-like waving of his wings is certainly addressed to the 

 female, that it occurs whether other males are about or not, 

 and that it means a solicitation of the female's consent to go 

 further. The female may move away or may fly at the male, 

 frustrating his intentions, " This is a good illustration of 

 the power of the hen bird in such matters, and how essential 

 her co-operation is." The banner-like waving of the wings 

 is a solicitation, for it is necessary to obtain the female's 

 consent. " That he is addressing himself to the female, 

 and to her only, and that she knows he is, is obvious, quite 

 manifest, not to be doubted by any one who has seen the 

 thing. It makes no difference whether other males are 

 about or not ; nor do males, when fighting or about to fight, 

 act in this way." It is not a war-dance, but a wooing. The 

 only difficulty is that the male is usually behind the female, 

 not in front. But the female redshank, just like a woman, 

 can see behind her. 



In some birds like redshanks there is prolonged fighting 

 between males, as well as displays before the females, and 

 perhaps Mr. Selous is right in thinking of a double selection, 

 " neither the handsomest nor the most vigorous ojily being 

 chosen, but the handsomest among the most vigorous." 

 It has not been found possible to follow an individual male 

 combatant (among redshanks) from day to day, but the 



