146 HABITS OF BIRDS. 
duced nearly an equal number of both sexes; and 
yet, if either the male or the female be killed be- 
fore breeding, the remaining bird usually finds a 
second mate. The male of the migrative species 
Mantagu thinks never quits the place he first resorts 
to, but attracts the females by his song; and hence, 
he conceives, it 1s probable that such females as 
have not at first paired, or lost their mates by acci- 
dent, continually wander about in search of another. 
We have a similar mstance to those mentioned by 
Montagu recorded by Professor Kalm. ‘* A couple 
of swallows,” he says, “built their nest in a sta- 
ble, and the female laid eggs in the nest, and was 
about fo brood them. Some days afterward the 
people saw the female still sitting on the eggs; but 
the male, flying about the nest, and sometimes set- 
tling on a nail, was heard to utter a very plaintive 
note, which’ betrayed his uneasiness. On a nearer 
examination, the female was found dead inthe nest; — 
and the people flung her body away. The male 
then went to sit upon the eggs; but, after being 
about two hours on them, and perhaps finding the 
business too troublesome, he went out, and return- 
ed in the afternoon with another female, which sat 
upon the nest, and afterward fed the young ones 
till they were able to provide for themselves. 
That it is not the male alone, however, which is 
thus able to procure a second mate, appears from 
the remarks of White. ‘‘ Among the monogamous 
birds,” he says, “several are’ to be found, after 
pairing time, single, and of each sex; but whether 
this state of celibaey is matter of choice or neces- 
sity is not so easily discoverable. When the house- 
sparrows deprive my martins of their nests, as soon 
as I cause one to be shot, the other, be it male or 
female, presently procures a mate, and so for sev- 
- eral times following. I have known a dovehouse 
infested by a pair of white owls, which made great 
havoc among young pigeons. One of the owls 
