BIRD COURTSHIP 85 



usually begins. This I call the ideal of love- 

 making among birds, and is in striking contrast 

 to the squabbles and jealousies of most of our 

 songsters. 



I have known the goldfinches to keep up 

 this musical and lovemaking festival through 

 three consecutive days of a cold northeast rain- 

 storm. Bedraggled, but ardent and happy, the 

 birds were not to be dispersed by wind or 

 weather. 



All the woodpeckers, so far as I have ob- 

 served, drum up their mates; the male adver- 

 tises his wants by hammering upon a dry, 

 resonant limb, when in due time the female 

 approaches and is duly courted and won. The 

 drumming of the ruffed grouse is for the same 

 purpose ; the female hears, concludes to take a 

 walk that way, approaches timidly, is seen and 

 admired, and the match is made. That the 

 male accepts the first female that ofi"ers herself 

 is probable. Among all the birds the choice, 

 the selection, seems to belong to the female. 

 The males court promiscuously ;' the females 

 choose discreetly. The grouse, unlike the 

 woodpecker, always carries his drum with him, 

 which is his own proud breast; yet, if undis- 

 turbed, he selects some particular log or rock in 

 the woods from which to sound forth his will- 

 ingness to wed. What determines the choice 

 of the female it would be hard to say. Among 

 song-birds it is probably the best songster, or 

 the one whose voice suits her taste best: 

 Among birds of bright plumage it is probably 



