44 



admiring people, the exercise is from pure delight and appre- 

 ciation of his own beauties. The Germans in their finely 

 discrimmatmg language, express the delicate shade of mean- 

 ing in these acts by Voriihung and Ausuhung. Even in birds 

 which pair for life, I have noticed a coquetry and pretended 

 courtship, sprmg after sprmg. 



One more interesting fact about courtship among birds — 

 another indication, perhaps, of their individuality — is that it 

 is not always the most highly decorated suitor, nor the one 

 victorious in combat, who wins the female for w^hom he is 

 puttmg forth his utmost efforts. I have seen a Peahen show 

 a very decided preference for, and ultimately pair with a 

 young bird who had but a small train, and was almost spur- 

 less. An amusmg instance also noticed in the Park was that 

 of some Mallard Ducks. Three drakes vied with each other 

 for the favor of a little brown duck. One of the drakes 

 seemed to put but faint hope in his spluttermgs and bowmgs, 

 and little wonder, for tail feathers with the graceful curl, 

 one of the decorations of his sex, had been shot away, and 

 shot-scars had spoiled the symmetry of other parts of his 

 plumage. The other two were large and beautiful birds, 

 bred in the Park. The iridescent emerald of their heads and 

 necks and their immaculate, shining collars made them hicom- 

 parably more conspicuous than the smaller wild bird. Never- 

 theless, all their efforts were in vain, and the occasional 

 pitiful attempts of the handicapped suitor to spread an 

 imaginary tail and declare' his everlasting devotion prevailed. 

 He was accepted, and the pair were inseparable until the 

 nest was finished and the duck began sitting on her eleven 



Turnmg from the birds in the collection to our wild native 

 birds which make the Park their home or pay it frequent 

 visits, we find much of interest in their changed habits and 

 dispositions. The sight of so many birds flying unharmed 

 in the flying cages or walking about their ranges and swim- 



