THE WAYS OF BIRDS. 141 



either for every brood, or to continue in each 

 other's company for the entire season in such 

 cases where more than one family is reared. 

 Other birds pair for life ; the union, once formed, 

 never being dissolved except by death ; whilst in 

 a few exceptional cases the mating is more or less 

 promiscuous, as in our Common Cuckoo, although, 

 by the way, I am by no means convinced that 

 this species does not pair for the season. Lastly, 

 we have the polygamous birds. This peculiar 

 habit chiefly prevails among the Gallinaceous 

 order of birds, familiar instances being the Black 

 Grouse and the Pheasant. In some species the 

 affection existing between a mated pair is very 

 deep indeed, birds often pining away over the 

 loss of a partner ; whilst in others little concern 

 is manifested, and a widowed bird has even been 

 known to get a new mate in a few hours. 



Thus, then, we see that the passions of love 

 and jealousy, the joys, delights, and anxieties of 

 paternity and maternity, the affection and faithful- 

 ness between male and female are all enjoyed and 

 expressed by birds in many different ways. They 

 are capable of showing sympathy with distressed 

 companions, and of combining their strength for 

 the common good in driving off an enemy. 

 In selecting sites for their nests, and in building 

 their charming homes, they display an amount of 

 intelligence neither equalled nor excelled by any 

 other class of animals ; and in their love for sweet 

 songs, and their tastes for the beautiful, they are 



