14 TowNSEND, Courtship of Ducks. [j^. 



Mallard. The bobbing does not continue so long, for the short 

 flights seem to play a more essential and important part in the 

 courtship of the Black Duck. It is possible that the white lower 

 surface of the wings revealed in these short flights may have an 

 entrancing efi^ect on the females. The under surface of the wings 

 of Pigeons who indulge in the same tactics on land are also white. 

 It is a common courtship action however, even with birds whose 

 under wing surface is not conspicuous and, it seems to me, these 

 flights are very different from the pursuit in the air of the female 

 by one or more males. The short flights are courtship displays 

 for the purpose of attracting the female and of leading to a choice. 

 The pursuit flights are different and are not in the nature of display; 

 it is possible indeed that the choice has already been made. Such 

 flights take place both in the case of the Black Duck and of the 

 Mallard and probably of other species. 



A striking instance of pursuit flight in the Black Duck observed 

 in Southern Labrador in 1909, I have described as follows: ^ 



"At Esquimeaux Point on June 2, as I was standing on the 

 rocks on the shore, I was startled by the loud quack or croak char- 

 acteristic of the female black duck, and looking up I saw two large 

 black ducks, evidently males, in close pursuit of a smaller female. 

 They doubled and twisted in a manner wonderful to see, as the 

 duck appeared to be straining every nerve to elude the drakes. 

 At last one of the drakes gave up the pursuit and disappeared over 

 the low forest, whereupon the other drake and the duck sailed away 

 together, as if it had all been arranged beforehand, straight to a 

 secluded pool out of sight behind the rocks." 



Mr. Bent has seen similar flights in the Mallard in Manitoba 

 and thus describes it : ^ "I have seen as many as three males in 

 ardent pursuit of one female, flying about high in the air, circling 

 over the marshes in rapid flight and quacking loudly; finally the 

 duck flies up to the drake of her choice, touches him with her bill 

 and the two fly off together, leaving the unlucky suitors to seek 

 other mates." 



I have found no previous mention of the courtship of the Black 



I "A Labrador Spring," 1910, p. 9.5. 



= MS. 



