THE DAMA 181 



times it goes close up to the hen and makes 

 her a present of an insect picked up on the 

 move, which the hen snatches from the male. 

 Or, when the hen is sitting on a low branch, 

 the male flies up to her with the love- 

 offering. The hen begins to flutter her 

 wings as if seized with a tremor, raises 

 her tail and utters a low whistle. After 

 indulging in a few kissipecks, they sit close 

 to each other in silent reverie. Such is 

 their tender method of courtship as noticed 

 by me. The Dama does not indulge in 

 flirtations like other birds. I have also seen 

 them mating, no restlessness or coquetry 

 takes place before the act. It is suddenly 

 done, and then both remain for some time 

 facing each other, still and erect. 



Two male birds should not be kept 

 together because they are likely to go for 

 one another at sight. Reginald Phillips 

 says, *'Those who can do so should keep 

 such birds apart, even separating the sexes 

 during non-breeding season. I was told last 

 summer, a male orange-headed Ground 



