170 Bird -Lore 



winged Blackbirds, and House Wrens. Indeed, in the case of the Wrens, 

 the victor was already the lord of a household a short distance away, so 

 that he proceeded to preside over two families that season. 



Whether the varied songs of birds have any effect upon the females other 

 than to point out a nesting territory which will be guarded, is open to question. 

 Certainly the males of most species have recourse to other methods of hyp- 

 notizing the females than merely singing to them, and it is some of these 

 methods that we wish to consider. Before leaving the combats of the males 

 in defense of their territory, however, we ought to mention the 'tournaments' 

 for which some birds, such as the European Ruff, and the Black Cock, as well 

 as our own Prairie Chicken, are noted. With these birds it is quite customary 

 for all the male birds of the neighborhood to assemble on a suitable knoll and 

 engage in sparring matches. The details of what constitutes a victory or just 

 how the females, which usually gather nearby, are apportioned to the winners 

 I do not believe have yet been worked out. 



Just as important as the singing and fighting in the courtship of many birds 

 is the display of plumage. Some species have special plumes, wonderfully 

 fashioned and beautifully colored, which are worn only during the breeding- 

 season, and which are seen to advantage only during the periods of courtship; 

 others have large air-sacs which can be distended beneath brilliantly colored 

 skin; while still others, which can claim but little by way of adornment, dis- 

 play whatever they have in some curious way. 



Of the birds which have special plumes to display, the Peacock is perhaps 

 the most familiar. The greatly elongated, eyed feathers which are ordinarily 

 spoken of as the 'tail' are in reality the upper tail-coverts, the real tail of ordi- 

 nary stiff blackish feathers being entirely concealed. It is interesting to watch 

 a pair of these gorgeous peafowl on a spacious lawn and see with what deftness 

 the male displays his charms to the female. They may be walking quietly 

 side by side when one's attention will be attracted by the rattling of quills as 

 the male shakes out his feathers and prepares to spread them. A few quick 

 stiff-legged steps brings him ahead of his consort and then, with a beautiful 

 sweep of his long 'tail,' he wheels in front of her and at the same instant lifts 

 and spreads the most beautiful fan that nature has ever conceived. It is no 

 wonder that he is venerated by the inhabitants of his native jungle. 



The Peacock belongs to the Pheasant family, the males of all of which are 

 noted for their brilliant plumage and their curious displays. The display of 

 the Golden Pheasant, a native of western-central China and conspicuous in 

 every aviary, is shown in the accompanying photographs. Even when at rest 

 he is a gorgeous bird with his scarlet breast, his brilliant yellow back bordered 

 by red, his emerald-green shoulders, his bright orange cape banded with purple, 

 his silky yellow crest, and his long flowing tail. But when, like the peacock, 

 he takes a little run ahead of the female, spreads his fan-like cape, apparently 

 shifting all of his brilliant feathers to her side of his body, and opens his arched 



