1 68 fN BIRD LAND. 



No doubt vocal display also plays a large part in 

 the courtship of birds. Nothing else in the early 

 spring can wholly account for the wonderful musical 

 tournaments that one hears lilting so lavishly on the 

 air. Many a damsel, doubtless, listens to the numer- 

 ous vocalists of her neighborhood, and then chooses 

 the suitor whose voice possesses the finest qualities, 

 or whose madrigals have the truest ring. How many 

 things may combine to determine the choice of the 

 parties, it would be difficult to say. Perhaps some 

 birds are handsomer than others in the eyes of 

 those that are looking for mates ; perhaps some 

 have more courtly and agreeable manners ; perhaps 

 some put more fervor into their wooing or more 

 passion into their songs ; perhaps some are better 

 tempered ; others may be more industrious or frugal 

 or tidy, and thus will make better husbands or house- 

 wives. Many a lass doubtless is sorely puzzled as 

 to whom she shall choose for a mate. One may 

 even fancy her crooning Addison's quaint, paradox- 

 ical lines to a whimsical lover concerning whose 

 eligibility she harbors some doubt, — 



" In all thy humors, whether grave or mellow, 

 Thou 'rt such a touchy, testy, pleasant fellow. 

 Hast so much wit and mirth and spleen about thee. 

 That there 's no living with thee or without thee." 



One question — not a profound one, I confess — 

 must bring this chapter to a close : Do the plumed 

 ladies ever propose? One might imagine a love- 

 lorn female bird throwing aside her maidenly reserve 



