264 HOMING WITH THE BIRDS 



flies away. If she is quite ready to begin house- 

 keeping, she condescends to indicate the fact most 

 casually, and the pair is mated. 



Our robins come to us immediately on their 

 arrival from the South. Some of them come in 

 pairs and with the understanding that they are to 

 mate and build within a few days, but not all. 

 Some males come alone, and seem to be seeking a 

 mate for days. Nearly all that can be seen of their 

 courtship is the male chasing away any other male 

 that ventures on the premises. They are very staid 

 and lack the flame and ardour of the orioles or 

 cardinals. 



In the fields and woods I frequently see birds 

 mating in the trees, on bushes, and in a very few 

 instances on the ground, but I do not see and can 

 not describe the courtship which precedes these 

 unions. Often I see a male in pursuit of another 

 male, when I am sure he is driving a rival from his 

 preserves. And again, I see a male in pursuit of 

 a female, when I am positive he is making a strenu- 

 ous effort to win her for a mate. 



Of one thing I am sure: birds of very gaudy 

 plumage like the goldfinch, oriole, cardinal, and 

 rose-breasted grosbeak, bobolink, and chewink, 

 have spirits as fiery and flashing as their coats. In 

 courting, they reach a pitch not too strongly 

 described as "frenzy." They pursue the mates 

 they covet with ardour, dash, and courage un- 

 known to birds of sombre colour like cuckoos, all 



