POLYANDRY OR POLYGAMY? 255 



back upon her, into the nest — that, at least, was the 

 appearance presented. For some moments only the 

 posterior part of the dam's body could be seen pro- 

 jecting through the aperture, and this continued to 

 work violently, in the manner indicated. Then she 

 disappeared altogether. A few minutes afterwards, 

 another and much more lengthy visit is paid, by one 

 of the old birds, to the nest, but, this time, though 

 a young one looks out with open mouth, no feeding 

 takes place. 



" I have now to record that a bird about to enter 

 the next nest to this, from which another, whose 

 snowy throat proclaims it to be full-grown, has 

 just looked out, is attacked, as it clings to the 

 mud, and driven off, by a third bird. In the course 

 of some few minutes this occurs twice again, the 

 attack, each time, being very fierce, and the struggle 

 more prolonged. And now, but shortly afterwards, 

 the same two birds (as I make no doubt) fly, to- 

 gether, on to the nest, and both enter it, shouldering 

 and pushing one another. They are in it some 

 time, during which I can make nothing out clearly. 

 Then one emerges, and I can see that the other has 

 hold of him with the beak, detaining him slightly, 

 as he flies away. This other, in a moment, flies out 

 too, and then the head of a third — the one, no doubt, 

 that has been in the nest, all the time — appears at 

 the entrance, as before. Now this nest, though so 

 late in the season, has the appearance of being a new 

 one. It even seems not yet entirely finished, though 

 nearly so. Perhaps it has been repaired, but, in any 

 case, there are no young birds in it, nor do I think 

 the old ones are sitting again, yet — for probably 



