BIRD COURTSHIP 81 



and fly about halfway to an apple-tree and look 

 toward him. The other male in the mean time 

 did his best to persuade her to cast her lot with 

 him. He followed her to the tree toward his 

 rival, and then flew back to the nest and spread 

 his plumage and called and warbled, oh, so con- 

 fidently, so fondly, so reassuringly ! When the 

 female would return and peep into the hole in 

 the tree what fine, joyous notes he would utter; 

 then he would look in and twinkle his wings 

 and say something his rival could not hear. 

 This vocal and pantomimic contest went on for 

 a long time. The female was evidently greatly 

 shaken in her allegiance to the male in the old 

 apple-tree. In less than an hour another 

 female responded to the male who had sought 

 the eaves of the study, and flew with him to 

 the box. Whether this was their first meeting 

 or not I do not know, but it was clear enough 

 that the heart of the male was fixed upon the 

 bride of his rival. He would devote himself a 

 moment to the new-comer and then turn toward 

 the old apple-tree, and call and lift his Avings. 

 Then, apparently admonished by the bird near 

 him, would turn again to her and induce her to 

 look into the box and warble fondly. Then 

 up on a higher branch again, with his attention 

 directed toward his first love, between whom 

 and himself salutations seemed constantly pass- 

 ing. This little play went on for some time, 

 when the two females came into collision, and 

 fell to the ground tweaking each other spite- 

 fully. Then the four birds drifted away from 



