166 IN BIRD LAND. 
There are some diminutive hummers, called Mexi- 
can stars, which become perfect furies when their 
jealousy is aroused. ‘Their throats swell ; their crests, 
wings, and tails expand; and they clinch and spear 
each other in the air like the veriest disciples of 
Bellona. Thus a giant passion may dwell in a 
pygmy form. 
It will be pleasant to turn to more gentle ways of 
pressing a love-suit. The manners of some males 
are very courtly while trying to win a spouse. They 
strut about most gracefully, and display their plumes 
to the best advantage, as if they would charm the 
coy damsel of their choice. The dainty kinglets 
erect and expand their crest feathers so that the 
golden or ruby spot spreads over the entire crown, 
making them look handsome indeed. 
It has never been my good fortune to witness the 
wooing of the ruffed grouse, miscalled the partridge 
in New England and the pheasant in the Middle 
States; but Mr. Langille has seen the performance, 
and with good reason goes into raptures over it. 
He describes it in this way: “ Behold the male 
strutting before the female in time of courtship! 
The first time I saw him in this act I was utterly 
at a loss to identify him. The ruff about the neck 
is perfectly erect, so that the head is almost dis- 
guised ; the wings are partially opened and drooped 
gracefully ; the feathers are generally elevated ; the 
tail, with its rich, black band, is spread to the ut- 
most and thrown forward. ‘Thus he stands, nearly 
motionless, a genuine object of beauty.” 
