238 Wonders of the Bird World 



the dull-coloured male moves about the pool, apparently 

 heedless of the surrounding females. Such stoical in- 

 difference usually appears too much for the feelings of some 

 of the fair ones to bear. A female coyly glides close to 

 him and bows her head in pretty submissiveness, but he 

 turns away, pecks at a bit of food and moves off ; she 

 follows, and he quickens his speed, but in vain ; he is 

 her choice, and she proudly arches her neck, and in many 

 circles passes and repasses close before the harassed 

 bachelor. He turns his breast first to one side, then to the 

 other, as though to escape, but there is his gentle wooer 

 ever pressing her suit before him. Frequently he takes 

 flight to another part of the pool, all to no purpose. If 

 with affected indifference he tries to feed, she swims along 

 side by side, almost touching him, and at intervals rises on 

 wing above him, and, poised a foot or two over his back, 

 makes a half-dozen quick, sharp wing-strokes, producing a 

 series of sharp, whistling noises in rapid succession. In 

 the course of time it is said that water will wear the hardest 

 rock, and it is certain that time and importunity have their 

 full effect upon the male of this Phalarope, and soon all are 

 comfortably married, while materfamilias no longer needs 

 to use her seductive ways and charming blandishments to 

 draw his attention. About June I the dry, rounded 

 side of a little knoll, near some small pond, has four dark, 

 heavily-marked eggs laid in a slight hollow, upon whatever 

 lining the spot affords, or, more rarely, upon a few dry 

 straws and grass-blades, brought and loosely laid together 

 by the birds. Here the captive male is introduced to his 

 new duties, and spends half his time on the eggs, while the 

 female keeps about the pool close by. In due time the 

 young are hatched and come forth, beautiful little balls of 

 buff and brown." 



In the Lark-heeled Cuckoos (Centropus), which are found 

 in Africa, India, and China, and from thence south to the 



