THE WILSON QUARTERLY. 55 



ward trees begin to swell, Otocoris becomes restless. As the 

 warm spring days multiply, his "fancy lightly turns to 

 thoughts of love." 



Watch him as he sits on some elevated clod, uttering his 

 peculiar little rattling song, and then darts away like a flash 

 of light, you know not where nor for what. He has not gone 

 far when up starts his intended mate, keeping just out of 

 his reach ; now rushing straight ahead, now turning sud- 

 denly aside ; now up, now down, instantly followed by the 

 ardent suitor. Soon she alights so suddenly that he pass- 

 es completely over and beyond her, but wheels about and 

 settles, fluttering and singing with all his might, at her 

 side. Coyly she sidles off and feigns indifference, pretend- 

 ing to be feeding. The suitor becomes almost frantic ; with 

 drooping wings and elevated head he displays his yellow 

 throat above the black crescent, with comical art, fairly sing- 

 ing his soul away meanwhile. 



The object of his affections is still provokingly indifferent. 

 Vexed beyond endurance he springs up and dashes towards 

 her. Away she darts like the wind, just at the moment 

 when you expect a terrible collision! Then the chase begins 

 again. Over and over the ardent suitor and the coy female 

 play their parts, until she finally receives the attentions and 

 caresses which are lavished upon her. Nor does love-mak- 

 ing with the larks cease when the prize is won, but contin- 

 ues throughout the spring days, well into the summer 

 months. 



Often a second suitor appears upon the scene. Then the 

 courtship just described is multiplied by two I The intervals 

 between the mad chase are filled b} challenges and feints 

 of battle. If, after the proper time has passed, the female 

 shows no preference, the issue rests upon a battle be- 

 tween the suitors. It is always short and decisive. The 

 first suitor wins. 



Unless the mate of the previous summer has been killed 

 he is always the first and successful suitor. If he does not 

 appear, two young fellows vie with each other for the first 

 position in the affections of the female. If both appear at the 



