COURTSHIP AND SEX 187 



contention of a pair is often prolonged ; and this suggests 

 that neither of the rivals is able to coerce the female. A 

 complexity is introduced by one of Mr. Selous' interesting 

 observations on the Kentish Plover. Tv^o males had been 

 fighting for an hour or more, when a female appeared as an 

 interested spectator. Another female approached and w^as 

 driven off by the first hen, who also attacked a third male 

 who appeared on the scene. But the second hen persisted 

 for over an hour, until her jealous rival grappled with her 

 desperately and drove her off. The mistress of the situation 

 then proceeded to drive off one of the fighting cocks. 



Courtship of Buffs. — Mr. Selous has given a detailed 

 account of the breeding habits of the Ruff {Machetes piignax). 

 The gathering place or lek is a flat strip of grassy shoreland, 

 with tufts and rooted turfs here and there, and with worn 

 circular depressions. The males appear in April and in 

 great form. They race over the ground or at one another, 

 with heads bent down and feathers out-ruffed. " They 

 rush for some yards, then stop suddenly in a crouching 

 attitude with the head extended forward on the ground, the 

 legs bent, the feathers ruffed. In this position they remain 

 for some time motionless, the body brought suddenly into a 

 state of rigidity, which, however, is of the bent bow order, 

 threatening each instant a renewal of energy. This may 

 issue, shortly, in another furious run in a reversed direction, 

 but often there is nothing further, and the bird, sinking more 

 and more down till it lies along the ground, becomes gradually 

 quiescent " (Selous, 1906, p. 292). 



The fighting is carried on with great energy and zest, 

 but no serious injuries are inflicted, and a minute after a 

 serious encounter two ruffs are the best of friends. They 

 are very sociable birds, and their jousting is no contradiction 

 to their sociability. 



There is no doubt as to the violence of the duels. 

 Mr. Selous writes (1906, p. 422) : " The birds fought most 

 furiously, kicking one another, hitting out with their wings, 

 and seizing one another with their bills. They separated 

 several times, one, when this happened, being generally 



