PAIRING INSTINCT OF BIRDS. 



dow grass again ? These birds pair annually, and of 

 course select each successive year a fresh situation for 

 the birthplace of their young. In the third place, we 

 will take that class of birds which never pair, or are 

 polygamous. It is only in one division of our present 

 classification that we can trace those of polygamous 

 habits — in the first section of the Gallinaceous birds. 

 In all birds which are polygamous the female alone 

 is entrusted with all care of the eggs or young, and she, 

 through a wise provision of Nature, is made equal to the 

 emergency. The male shows little or no affection for 

 them. From this I would infer that all birds of the 

 Gallinaceous order, with few exceptions, are polygamous. 

 I proceed now to give exceptions, which tend greatly 

 to perplex and bewilder the observer in the study of 

 this interesting subject. This matter presents very 

 little uniformity in its arrangement. In the Gallina- 

 ceous order of birds the first section are polygamous in 

 their habits ; but even to this the Red Grouse, for 

 instance, forms an exception ; while the latter section of 

 these birds, birds of the pigeon tribe, to wit, are decidedly 

 monogamous in their habits. 



The House Sparrow returns to its nesting-site, and is 

 thus at variance with its congeners of the same family. 

 The tame Duck is polygamous ; but observe its w^ild re- 

 presentative, the Mallard, which separates into pairs for 

 nidification. The Long-tailed Titmouse never returns 

 to its beautiful abode, while the Blue Titmouse appears 

 annually at its hole in the hollow tree. The Goatsucker 

 annually pairs, while Swallows, Sw^ifts, and Martins, I 

 believe, remain united for life. The Rook I have once 

 observed practising polygamous propensities, a fact per- 

 haps never before recorded. 



Are those birds which pair for life gifted with a 



