The Audubon Societies 



233 



separatee], the other remains single for years and perhaps never remates. On 

 the other hand, with the majority of birds, if one is killed, a new mate is secured 

 within a few hours. 



A few birds, like the Pheasants and, proVmbly, most Grouse, are regularly 

 polygamous and others, like the House Wren (and probably other species of 

 Wrens), Red-winged Blackbirds, Great-tailed Grackles, and doubtless other 



THE CANADA GOOSE DEFENDING ITS NEST 



The Goose (in the foreground; crouches over her eggs while the gander 



grasps the intruder with his bill and beats him with his wings. (Birds 



nesting in captivity; 



Species, frequently so; and individual cases can be expected occasionally with 

 almost any species, should there chance to be a preponderance of females, a 

 condition which rarely happens. Polyandry, the mating of one female with 

 more than one male, may likewise occasionally happen, particularly if a 

 stronger male is able to drive away one that is already mated. It is not regu- 

 larly the case with any bird unless it be the Cowbird, and of its domestic 

 relations we Ft ill know too little to say definitely. 



