BIRD COURTSHIP 79 



toward each other are ; often they pipe a shrill, 

 fine strain, audible only a few yards away. 

 Then, in a twinkling, one makes a spring and 

 they are beak to beak and claw to claw as they 

 rise up a few feet into the air. But usually 

 no blow is delivered; not a feather is ruffled; 

 each, I suppose, finds the guard of the other 

 perfect. Then they settle down upon the 

 ground again and go through with the same 

 running challenge as before. How their breasts 

 glow in the strong April sunlight; how perk 

 and military the bearing of each! Often they 

 will run about each other in this way for many 

 rods. After a week or so the males seem to 

 have fought all their duels, when the rush and 

 racket I have already described begins. 



The bluebird wins his mate by the ardor of 

 his attentions and the sincerity of his compli- 

 ments, and by finding a house ready built 

 which cannot be surpassed. The male blue- 

 bird is usually here several days before the 

 female, and he sounds forth his note as loudly 

 and eloquently as he can till she appears. On 

 her appearance he flies at once to the box or 

 tree cavity upon which he has had his eye, and 

 as he looks into it calls and warbles in his most 

 persuasive tones. The female at such times is 

 always shy and backward, and the contrast in 

 the manners of the two birds is as striking as 

 the contrast in their colors. The male is bril- 

 liant and ardent; the female is dim and retir- 

 ing, not to say indifferent. She may take a 

 hasty peep into the hole in the box or tree and 



