Ill 



to look for a sitting cock. It is thus evident that 

 Wallace's theory does not explain the comparatively 

 dull plumage of hen birds. The experienced avicul- 

 turist can, I am sure, cite from his own experience 

 other examples of showily-coloured cock birds sitting 

 on the eggs in open nests. 



Charles Darwin sought to explain the phenomena 

 of sexual dimorphism-by his famous theory of sexual 

 selection. He devoted much labour in the attempt to 

 show that in nature circumstances are such that the 

 hens are able to pick and choose their mates. He 

 further maintained that the hens have an eye for 

 beauty and select the most handsome of their suitors. 

 It is on account of this feminine selection, this tyranny 

 of the female, that the splendid plumage of the cock 

 bird has arisen. This theory has never commanded 

 anything like universal acceptance, and it is, I believe, 

 at present the fashion to poke fun at it. The subject 

 is one on which the aviculturist can scarcely fail to 

 throw light if he take the trouble to do so. 



The following questions arise in this connection : 



1. Do birds exercise what we may call conscious 

 selection? Does a bird mate with the first suitor that 

 presents itself, or does it look around until it meets a 

 kindred spirit? 



2. If birds do exercise such selection, what de- 

 termines the choice, is it beauty of plumage as Darwin 

 thought? 



3. Does the hen alone select as Darwin supposed, 

 is the cock ready to mate with every old hen he meets? 



The aviculturist should try to answer each of these 

 questions from his or her experience. It is my belief 

 that birds do consciously select their partners, that 



