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Mr. Frank Finn,



being present, as Mr. W. Frost has shown with the

Cock-of-the-Rock ( Rupicola crocea).


IX. Birds may display in autumn, but no aviculturist will


attach any importance to this; it simply means that they

are again in breeding form after the moult, and would

doubtless breed if not checked by the oncoming winter.


X. Hens very, very rarely, show any appreciation of the display


that we can perceive. It is needless to labour this point,

the apparent indifference of the hen being so much in

contrast to the excited energy of the male. She may

even appear to be irritated ; everyone must have seen

the hen Sparrow attack the displaying male.


XI. Where the hen is a finer bird than the cock, she displays,

and also does the fighting if there is any done ; she is

in fact, masculine in character as well as in plumage

and size.*


With regard to other methods of courtship or special

sexual activity at the breeding season, we have to reckon with

song and gifts of food : —


I. Generally only the male sings or gives a special call ; but


the female usually can , and often does when alone, e.g.

Virginian Cardinal ( Cardhialis virgmianus). In some

cases, however, e.g. in many cases, the voices of the

sexes are absolutely limited to them, and apparently

depend on structural peculiarities in the windpipe, as

anyone can see with the two domestic ducks, Common

and Muscovy.


II. Song uttered under the influence or auger or even fear, as


well as amatory passion ; skylarks and robins sing, as

cocks crow, when challenging each other; the skylark

will sing in snatches when chased by a hawk, and I have

heard a bantam cock crow while his overgrown spurs

were being pared down and he was held in the hand.


III. Song or male calls usually irritate rival males intensely;


I have seen two cock fowls manoeuvre about a lot, but

not fight till one crowed.



* I have, however, seen the male Kufous Tinamou ( Rhynchofus ru/escens) display to

the female, drawing himself up and expanding forward his cinnamon primaries; as in

other Tinamous the sexes in this bird are coloured alike, but the hen is larger.



