SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 157 



magnificent showing off of pheasants and ducks, the screams of 

 parrots and all the songs vibrant with sentiment, in which birds 

 strive to outdo each other in the eyes of the female, show how 

 greatly the spirit of emulation and recognition of their respective 

 accomplishments inspire the suitors. We should also realize how 

 pronounced must be the discriminative power and aesthetic ap- 

 preciation of the females. The display of the peacock combines 

 the classes of movement, color, and noise ; for the beauty of its 

 argus-eyed feathers is made more effective by their being raised 

 in a halo above the bird, the shivering of its wing-cjuills forming 

 a Castanet accompaniment. 



A genuine delight is taken in these various displays. So far 

 from being intuitive or mechanical exercises they are conscien- 

 tiously practiced for weeks beforehand, and are kept up long 

 after the period of courtship and nesting is over. For instance, 

 in the Zoological Park, when a peacock in early spring timidly 

 erects his plumes before an unappreciative crow it is for practice 

 in anticipation of its later use in competition with his rivals. 

 After the period of courtship, when he struts back and forth 

 before a line of admiring people, the exercise is from pure de- 

 light and appreciation of his own beauties. The Germans, in 

 their finely discriminating language, express the deUcate shade 

 of meaning in these acts by voriibiiiig and aitsiibiing. Even in 

 birds, which pair for life, I have noticed a coquetry and pretended 

 courtship, spring after spring. 



One more interesting fact about courtship among birds — an- 

 other indication, perhaps, of their individuality — is that it is not 

 always the most highly decorated suitor, nor the one victorious 

 in combat, who wins the female for whom he is putting forth 

 his utmost efforts. I have seen a peahen show a very decided 

 preference for, and ultimately pair off with, a young bird who 

 had but small display, and was almost spurless. An amusing 

 instance also noticed in the Park was that of some mallard ducks. 

 Three drakes vied with each other for the favor of a little brown 

 duck. One of the drakes seemed to put but faint hope in his 

 splutterings and bowings, and little wonder, for his tail feathers 

 and the snowy curl, one of the decorations of his sex, had been 

 shot away, and shot-scars had spoiled the symmetry of other 

 parts of his plumage. The other two were large and beautiful 

 birds, bred in the Park. The iridescent emerald of their heads 

 and necks, and their immaculate shining collars made them in- 

 comparably more conspicuous than the smaller wild bird. Never- 

 theless, all their efforts were in vain, while the occasional pitiful 



