SPRING BIRD LIFE 19 



distinguish between the wing of the returning 

 parent bird, and the foot of an intruder, so as to 

 cower down, and keep their yellow beaks closed in 

 time of danger. 



Thus bird, nest, and egg are all, more or less, 

 protectively coloured. 



Spring is the pairing season, and the courting 

 of the birds, which precedes, or accompanies this 

 process, is a pleasant phenomenon, which seems to 

 be well-nigh universal. This is a more conscious 

 and direct appeal than either colour, or song. 

 Whether vanity is at the root of it, we should 

 require a much more intimate acquaintance with 

 bird psychology to determine. 



The rooks in the stubble field gyrate round other 

 rooks, which, persumably, are of the opposite sex, 

 advancing, and retreating, and displaying to the 

 best advantage, attractions, whose chief shortcom- 

 ing is their monotony. Even the common sparrows 

 seek to impress the sober-coloured hen by spreading 

 out the flight feathers, and dragging the wing along 

 the flags or the Macadam. 



Still more demonstrative are the plovers, and 

 their kindred. The male woodcock performs in 

 the air, until he is satisfied that he has duly 

 impressed the clucking hen beneath. And, few 



