THE



237



Hvicultural flfoagasme,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCI ETY.



Third Series —VOL. III. — NO 9 .—All rights reserved. JULY, 1912



NOTES ON SEXUAL SELECTION.


By Frank Finn, B.A., F.Z.S.


Part II.


(Concluded Jrom page 211J.


Now, in view of this large array of facts, we really ought

to be able to say something definite as to whether Darwin was

right or not; personally I do not think his case is proved, as far

as colour and decorations go,—at least that is my conclusion

after many years’ observation of the habits of birds in general,

and their sex and social relations in particular. During my

experience, I have seen the following cases in favour of the

preference of a more highly decorated male or of a typical in¬

stead of an abnormal specimen :—


I. A hen Avadavat (SporcEgintlms atnandava) twice chose a

bright-coloured cock in preference to a dull one sub¬

mitted to her (different couples of males each time).


II. A hen Linnet ( Acant/us cannabina ) preferred a lame rich-

coloured male to a duller but stronger and perfect bird.


III. A hen Pekin Robin similarly preferred a weaker but


brilliant cock to a duller and stronger one.


IV. A female Spotted-billed Duck (Anas pcecilorhyncha) chose


as her mate a Mallard-coloured tame drake in preference

to Spotted-bills. Here of course we are dealing with

different species, but they interbreed freely when brought

together by man ; in nature their breeding-areas are

different.


V. Of some Mandarin Ducks in the Calcutta Zoo. the females



