THE CUSTOM OF CARESSING 277 



character, being very noticeable in Pigeons, Parrots, 

 Babblers, and Waxbills, for instance ; but it also 

 occurs in other groups sporadically, being practised 

 by Penguins, Tree-Ducks, and Coots among water- 

 fowl, and by the Talking-Mynahs among the 

 Starlings. I have even seen a Muscovy Duck 

 caress her downy ducklings with her bill, this species 

 being the most motherly of all the Ducks, while 

 her ducklings for their part seem to cling to her 

 more than do those of others. 



The caressing habit is connected with high 

 sociability in many cases, i.e. with a tendency to 

 associate in larger numbers than single pairs, and 

 to combine for mutual defence ; thus, the small 

 Indian Tree-Ducks will tackle other waterfowl 

 several together, and Mr. H. Wormald has lately 

 recorded how the White-faced Tree-Ducks (Den- 

 drocycna viduata) recently reared by him resented 

 the handling of one of their number, gathering 

 round with drooping wings a very remarkable 

 gesture for Ducks and flying up as if to effect a 

 rescue of the prisoner. 



This drooping of the wings under social excite- 

 ment is no doubt the origin of the " shamming 

 lame " behaviour common to so many birds when 

 beguiling enemies away from their nests and 

 young, as in the case of the Partridge, Lapwing, 

 and Sheldrake ; though no doubt the habit, 

 emotional at first, becomes afterwards an intelligent 

 action, in some cases at all events. Similarly, the 

 " shamming dead " action, as exemplified by the 



