248 BIRD BEHAVIOUR 



I was much amused on a most miserable Sunday 

 one January to see a very agitated Mandarin Duck 

 which had got left out in the pairing which was 

 going on despite the cold rain, establishing an 

 understanding with an equally forlorn Carolina 

 drake, in spite of differences of language. Her 

 gestures made it clear to him that she wanted him 

 to drive off Mandarin drakes who happened to 

 pass, and I saw him get two duckings from these 

 while I watched, 'although she was quite ready her- 

 self to follow any mated Mandarin till he turned to 

 drive her off. 



The note of the male of her species certainly 

 seems to have a very potent effect on the hen at 

 times ; twice I have seen the common Starling fly 

 to her mate when singing, and pairing take place, 

 the only occasions on which I have observed this, 

 and possibly the " instrumental music " practised 

 by some birds may have charms to soothe the 

 feminine breast. On the only occasion on which I 

 ever saw the pairing of the Green Peafowl (Pavo 

 muticus), the hen signified her assent just after 

 he had rustled his train for the second time, 

 although on the first rustling, after she had 

 apparently been admiring his display with unusual 

 attention, she slipped round behind him, only to 

 come forward again. 



At such times both this and the common Peafowl 

 utter a long-drawn and peculiarly shrill scream, 

 quite unlike their usual call, and this may have its 

 effect on the hen. I have also seen the common 



