COURTSHIP IN BIRDS 261 



But all birds are not so well fitted for display 

 as the peacock who appears to have reached the 

 very acme in this direction, but a study of some 

 of the less brilliant birds bears out, perhaps 

 more clearly, the efforts of the male in display. 

 The male red-winged blackbird, when engaged in 

 feeding on the ground, appears as a simple black 

 bird. Sometimes not a trace of color is visible, 

 although he may show a narrow yellow line or 

 a somewhat broader line with red in it on his 

 shoulders. When engaged in courtship these 

 same shoulders blaze with scarlet color. Not 

 only are the surrounding black feathers pushed 

 back so that the epaulets are broad and con- 

 spicuous, but each individual scarlet feather is 

 erected and the epaulets are thick and striking. 

 Not only that, but he flies slowly and directly to- 

 wards the female and the beauty spots are dis- 

 played to her eyes, if she will but bestow a glance 

 at them, under the most favorable and dazzling 

 circumstances. 



The male eider swimming about and bowing 

 to the female suddenly rises up on his tail in the 

 water and flashes out the magnificent jet black 



