THE WOOING OF BIRDS 113 



of increasing his attentions by inspiring hope. He 

 becomes more and more excited ; he hops to the 

 branch on which the, as yet, unresponsive one is 

 sitting, and gradually works towards her, cooing as 

 he goes. After about five minutes of this behaviour 

 the hen condescends to answer the pretty things he 

 is evidently saying. Coo-coo, coo, coo-coo-coo, she says, 

 and this recognition has a marvellous effect on the 

 male. Probably it corresponds to the human " I like 

 you just a little bit," for he coos and bows, his feathers 

 are puffed out as far as he possibly can puff them, 

 his wings are drooping and vibrating with excite- 

 ment, and his tail is raised and lowered in time with 

 the bows. Then, cooing again, the hen rubs her beak 

 on the other's wings, and he answers by doing the 

 same, for he has now wooed and won his mate. 

 Another pigeon, with loud flapping, flies to the tree, 

 and the pair fly away to the fir plantation, perhaps 

 two of the happiest inhabitants of birdland. 



It is still springtime. We are on a railway 

 embankment. The fresh green grass is dotted in 

 patches with yellow flowers coltsfoot and the 

 lesser celandine. A perfume pervades the evening 

 air, and on parting the thick grass we see many 

 scented violets of the white and blue varieties. 

 Tree - pipits are rising a short distance and de- 

 scending with outspread wings, singing sweetly. 

 We hear the short snatchy songs of whinchats 

 H 



