212 Life and Immortality. 



feeling, in the early morning and evening hours, they may 

 be seen exercising themselves by means of " curious spiral 

 gyrations " in mid-air, and uttering, as earthwards they 

 descend, a note which has been likened to the word kwank. 

 This note may be a call to the female in the spring, but as it 

 is often uttered in the fall after the breeding-season is past, 

 it may also be a summons for the gathering together of the 

 members of the same household. The production of these 

 sounds seems a labor of very great effort. But the movements 

 of the males at these times must be seen to be appreciated. 

 The head and bill are bent forward until the latter comes 

 into contact with the ground, and, just as the sound is being 

 emitted, the body is urged violently forward. These spas- 

 modic exertions having ceased, the actor in this drama 

 twitches his abbreviated, half-spread tail, assumes an erect 

 attitude of listening, and, if no response is elicited, repeats his 

 characteristic cry with all its accompanying movements. If 

 the call awakes an answering note, the happy lover flies to 

 the presence of the one he seeks and lavishes upon her the 

 most endearing caresses. Sometimes, as Audubon affirms, 

 the male awaits the arrival of the dear one, and does not fly 

 to meet her. The summons, according to the same eminent 

 authority, seem sometimes to be replied to by one of the 

 same sex, which is always the prelude to a fierce encounter 

 between the two, for, on such occasions, when the feelings 

 are in a high state of tension, the most intense enmity exists 

 between the males. But these contentions are ordinarily 

 short-lived, and cease with the assumption of matrimonial 

 relations. 



The happiness of the male is now complete. With his 

 homely but prepossessing bride by his side, he soon journeys 

 off in search of a home. This is a matter of great conse- 

 quence, and tasks the patience to the utmost. But their 

 labors are eventually crowned with success. The most 

 secluded resorts are visited, and in some low, dense and 

 swampy woods or brake, difficult of access, and one that 



