832 PKT BIRDS OF BENGAL 



pair was rather shy and, though the breeding- 

 season was on, showed no sign of taking 

 advantage of tl:e cock's restlessness to become 

 a mother. But I noticed that the hen of the 

 second pair in the adjoining room frequently 

 flew up to the wire-netting separating the two 

 compartments ; and her behaviour clearly showed 

 that she wanted the company of the first cock- 

 bird more than that of the one with which she was 

 lodged. Thinking they might pair up, I let this, 

 flirt into the first cock^s room. It seems that a 

 female bird occasionally declares her love to a 

 cock and persists in it even though beaten and 

 insulted. The cock seemed in no mood to- 

 respond to the advances made b}- the forward 

 female and became more irascible. Fights with 

 the Shama became very frequent, and so I moved 

 the three Dhayals into the second compartment 

 which now contained two pairs of these birds. 

 This arrangement led to more unpleasantness. 

 The two cocks frequently indulged in free fights 

 with serious consequences to the original occupant 

 of the room — the second cock. The first and stur- 

 dier cock, furious with jealousy, began also tO' 

 chase both the hens. The second cock was there- 

 fore removed to a third compartment which ad« 

 joins the second one. The first cock showed his. 



