CHAPTER IX 



THE COURTSHIP AND DANCING OF BIRDS 



The Courting of the male Red-necked Phalarope by the female. 



Superiority of the Female Hemipodes Painted Snipes Phalaropes 

 Dancing of the Black Grouse The " Spel " of the Capercailie 

 The " showing-off " of the Great Bustard The Bustard's pouch 

 The Ruffs display The Crane's performance The Rook in 

 love The dance of the Jacana The "Bailador" in "song and 

 dance." 



IT cannot be denied that, in the majority of the species 

 of birds, the reverse of what we know to be the case 

 with human beings is an evident fact, and the males are 

 by far the handsomer birds. Nevertheless, in a fc\v 

 instances, the hen-bird is the best looking of the two. In 

 229 



