332 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



ure. When absorbed in feeding;! or in their 

 gambols with each other, the sexes will remain 

 upon the same tree for hours together. 



This species is not gregariotis, but apipears to 

 arrive already paired ; for it is not an uncommon 

 occurrence, even from its first arrival, to find the 

 sexes feeding and rambling together, and in the 

 intervals of gleaning, dallying together; and lavish- 

 ing upon each other the most endearing attentions. 

 Either the species arrives already mated, or per- 

 forms this indispensible business inimediafely on 

 its arrival. Diligent searching has convinced us 

 that It does not breed within our limits, although 

 these movements would seem to warrant the 

 belief that it does. Why these tokens of endear- 

 ment and affection ? ' On the supposition that 

 the birds arrive already paired, and are devotedly 

 attached to each other as evidenced by these 

 actions -which are the promptings of an overflowing 

 love, and which must manifest itself in some such 

 way, when not otherwise diverted by the duties of 

 nidificatibn and incubation, they can be readily 

 accounted for. We have occasionally observed a 

 lonely male to come upon the scene in the midst 

 of these wooing? or caresses, when a conflict would 

 ensue, which would last a long while. The female 

 would remain a passive spectator of the struggle, 

 not deigning to enter into it, as long as victory 

 seemed ready to crown her favorite. But when 

 her partner wavered in the conflict, she would 

 come to his rescue, and deal most summary blows 

 upon his antagonist. 



