272 FROM NORTH POLE TO EQUATOR. 



Probably the females would be more compliant than they gener- 

 ally are if one male were the only suitor. But the fact that the 

 males are in most species in the majority gives the female bird the 

 boon of freedom of choice. Several males, sometimes even a con- 

 siderable number of them, pay court to her at the same time, and 

 thus justify her deliberation and selectiveness. Intentionally or 

 unintentionally, she obeys the law of selection; among several she 

 tries to pick out the best, the strongest, the healthiest, the most 

 excellent in every respect.^^ She can afford to be fastidious. The 

 reaction of her conduct on the males finds expression in boundless 

 jealousy, which results, not unnaturally, in prolonged, often mortal, 

 combat. Every bird, harmless as he may appear to us, is a hero in 

 fighting for his loved one, and everyone understands so well how to 

 use the weapons he is provided with, whether bill, claws, spurred 

 feet, or even wings armed with horny spines, that the battle in 

 many cases comes to an end only with the death of one of the 

 combatants. 



The combat takes place in the air, on the ground, among the 

 branches, or in the water, according to the species of bird. Eagles 

 and falcons fight their adversaries in the air with beak and talons. 

 Magnificent curves, rival flights to attain to a height suitable for 

 attack, swift thrust, brilliant parry, mutual persecution and courage- 

 ous persistence are the chief features of such duels. If one of the 

 kingly champions succeeds in seizing his foe, the latter strikes his 

 talons into his opponent's breast, and both, unable properly to use 

 their wings, fall whirling through the air. When the ground is 

 reached the fight is, of course, interrupted; but, as soon as one 

 rises, the other follows him, and hostilities begin anew. If one 

 becomes exhausted, perhaps in consequence of wounds received, he 

 beats a retreat, and, hotly pursued by the victor, flies hastily and 

 without attempting resistance, beyond the limits of the domain which 

 the female bird has chosen for herself; but, in spite of defeat, he 

 does not finally relinquish the strife until she has declared decidedly 

 in favour of the conqueror. Such duels sometimes, though not 

 very often, have a fatal issue, for the eagle, whose jealousy is 

 provoked by love and ambition, shows no mercy towards a con- 



