The Making of Species 
to say, very soon died ; and, as he had appeared 
perfectly healthy, I fear grief was accountable 
for his end—a warning to future experimenters 
to remove the rejected suitor as early as 
possible. In the present case I took away the 
favoured bird, and put in the side compartments 
he and his rival had occupied two other cocks, 
which differed in a similar way, though not to 
the same extent. Again the hen kept at the 
side of the rich red specimen, so, deeming | 
knew her views about the correct colour for an 
amadavat, I took her away too, and tried a 
second hen with these two males. This was an 
unusually big bird, and a very independent one, 
for she would not make up her mind at all, and 
ultimately I released all three without having 
gained any result. 
Subsequently I made another experiment with 
linnets. In this case all three were allowed to 
fly in a big aviary-cage together, a method which 
I do not recommend. 
In this case, however, the handsomest cock, 
which showed much richer red on the breast, had 
a crippled foot,and proved, as I had expected, 
to be in fear of the other; nevertheless, the hen 
mated with him. It must be said, in justice to 
the duller bird, that he did not press the advan- 
tage his soundness gave him, but with a less 
gentle bird than the linnet this would have 
happened.” 
g12 
