Chap. XIV.] PREFEREXCE BY THE FEMALE. m 



With the members of the same species the fact of the 

 female preferring to pair with one male rather than with 

 another is not so likely to excite attention, as when this 

 occurs between distinct species. Such cases can best be 

 observed with domesticated or confined birds ; but these 

 are often pampered by high feeding, and sometimes have 

 their instincts vitiated to an extreme degree. Of this lat- 

 ter fact I could give sufficient proofs with pigeons, and 

 especially with fowls, but they cannot be here related. 

 Vitiated instincts may also account for some of the hybrid 

 unions above referred to ; but in many of these cases the 

 birds were allowed to range freely over large ponds, and 

 there is no reason to suppose that they were unnaturally 

 stimulated by high feeding. 



With respect to birds in a state of nature, the first and 

 most obvious supposition which will occur to every one is 

 that the female at the proper season accepts the first male 

 whom she may encounter ; but she has at least the oppor- 

 tunity for exerting a choice, as she is almost invariably 

 pursued by many males. Audubon — and we must remem- 

 ber that he spent a long life in prowling about the forests 

 of the United States and observing the birds — does not 

 doubt that the female deliberately chooses her mate : thus, 

 speaking of a woodpecker, he says the hen is followed by 

 half a dozen gay suitors, who continue performing strange 

 antics, " until a marked preference is shown for one." 

 The female of the red-winged starling [Agelceus phmnice- 

 us) is likewise pursued by several males, " until, becoming 

 fatigued, she alights, receives their addresses, and soon 

 makes a choice." He describes also how several male 

 night-jars repeatedly plunge through the air with as- 

 tonishing rapidity, suddenly turning, and thus making a 

 singular noise ; " but no sooner has the female made her 

 choice, than the other males are driven away." With one 

 of the vultures {Cathartes aura) of the United States, 



