1902.] F. Finn — General Notes on Variation in Birds. J8l 



probably due in many cases to the male in question not being strong 

 enough to coerce a refractory female. Darwin mentions this (Descent 

 of Man, second edition, 1899, p. 417) with regard to the fowl ; and in 

 the case of the Pigeon and Canary, the more frequent occurrence of 

 the phenomenon seems to be connected with the greater equalit}^ of 

 the sexes. 



I once witnessed a case in which a male domestic collared dove 

 {Turtur risoriue) confined in a hutch with a recently wild caught Turtle- 

 dove {T. auritus) female, bullied the unfortunate bird till she was nearly 

 scalped, with the result that ultimately she laid, although no young 

 were hatched from the eggs. 



Had she been the stronger bird, this would certainly not have 

 happened ; I have seen a female Muscovy duck repulse ignominiously 

 a male common drake which tried to pair with her. 



The converse case, of a cock strongly objecting to a particular hen, 

 has been recently recorded with the fowl by (Bateson, Eoyal Society 

 Reports to the Evolution Committee, I., 1902,^. 100). 



L. Variation in Habits. 



Some habits of birds, such as the method of showing off to the 

 female, of manipulating food — with or without the use of the feet — seem 

 remarkably constant, but the ordinary way of living is subject to 

 considerable variation. Darwin and Wallace have given a good deal of 

 evidence on this head, and perhaps it will not be considered out of place 

 if a little more be added. 



The Pariah-kite of India (Milvus govinda)^ habitually takes cooked 

 vegetable food in default of meat, such as boiled rice, bread, &c. 



The White-breasted Kingfisher {Halcyon smyrnensis), a bird of 

 varied general feeding-habits, as it takes both fish and land-animals 

 such as earthworms, occasionally practises piracy ; one which haunts tlie 

 tank in the Museum grounds has taken to robbing the Dabchicks 

 {Podicipes alhipennis) living there of their fish ; I have seen it make several 

 attempts, one at least successfully. 



The Kiiig-crow {Bicrurns ater) of India, although usually preying 

 for itself, also practises piracy at times ; and though normally insect- 

 ivorous, it will also attack small birds and fish. 



The Indian House-crow (Corvus splendens), though usually canying 

 objects with its beak like Passerine birds generally, may be occasionally 

 seen carrying something in its feet like a bird of prey. As the object 

 is always according to my experience, valueless, a leaf, bit of dry cow- 

 dung, or a stick, it would seem that the prudence of the crow prevents the 

 bird from experimenting on articles of food in this way, lest they be lost. 



