Natural History 435 



single bird, who has been sharper than the rest in detecting 

 the lady afar off ... he will suddenly draw himself up to a 

 rigid position of attention, till he is sure she is really coming. 

 Having settled this in his mind to his own satisfaction, he 

 throws himself into the air and flutters up a few feet, uttering 

 the while hoarse notes with all the power and effect he can 

 muster. 



"This is, of course, done to impress the lady in his favour, 

 and arouse in her breast a proper sense of admiration, which he 

 considers his due. His example is immediately followed by all 

 the others, who, on alighting, dance about in the most absurd 

 manner, each one trying to see who can screech the loudest and be 

 the most ridiculous in his antics. 



"When a hen has alighted on the playing ground the male 

 that is nearest to her pairs with her, and fights off any other that 

 disputes his possession. She then meanwhile walks sedately round 

 her lord and master, picking about the grass coquettishly, and pre- 

 tending to be feeding. Each hen on arrival causes the same 

 general excitement and is appropriated by one or other of the 

 successful cocks till the harems are filled up, one cock having at 

 times as many as six or seven hens. As the season advances, after 

 the first few mornings of the hens coming to the ground, they 

 resort to the same spot each day and stay with the same cock who 

 has previously trodden them, and are not interfered with after- 

 wards by other cocks, who acknowledge the superior claims of the 

 male to whom they rightfully belong." l 



In some cases there are special aids to display, such as the 

 pouch in the neck of the Great Bustard, which the cock can dis- 

 tend at will and use as an aid in the erection of his feathers; 

 Pigeons, too, have a similar habit of inflating their "crops," al- 

 though they lack special plumes; and the Frigate-bird has an 

 external pouch which itself serves as an ornament, being of naked 

 skin, bright red in colour, and very extensible. 



'J. W. MUlais. 



