COURTSHIP AMONG BIRDS loi 



birds his legs are armed with formidable spurs which 

 can, and do, inflict the most terrible wounds : as, indeed, 

 has been shown from the evidence of the Cock-pit in the 

 case of game-cocks. 



By way of contrast with the several displays just 

 described, it would be hard to find a more striking illustra- 

 tion than that afforded by the Lesser Bird of Paradise 

 {Paradisea minor), inasmuch as here the display is 

 associated with rivalry between a number of individuals. 

 For much of our knowledge on this subject we have to 

 depend on the descriptions of natives ; but happily this 

 has now been supplemented by observations made by 

 Mr. Ogilvie Grant on a captive in the Gardens of the 

 Zoological Society of London. 



Impelled by the surging wave of sexual desire, as yet 

 only seeking consummation, these birds gather together at 

 frequent intervals, on certain of the forest trees of the Aru 

 Islands, selected apparently because they present an im- 

 mense head of spreading branches, and large but scattered 

 leaves. Here ample space is found for the revels, which 

 take the form of " Sacaleli," or dancing-parties, comparable 

 to the erotic dances of many barbaric races. 



By the time the ball opens, the birds, to the number 

 of twenty or more, have worked themselves up into a 

 state bordering on frenzy, and each commences his per- 

 formance with quivering wings and loud, penetrating 

 cries which may be syllabled as walk — zvalk — zvalk — walk — 

 walk — walk, rapidly repeated. Then the wings are sud- 

 denly held out on either side, the tail is bent forward under 

 the branch, and with a quick, barely perceptible rustle, 

 the gorgeous, golden, diaphanous side-plumes are thrust 

 upward and forward on each side of the body, forming 

 an arched cascade above the back. With every muscle 



