638 THE DESCENT OF MAN 



courtship as early as the month of January, while the 

 others would be contending or coquetting for hours every 

 day, until all seemed satisfied with the choice they had 

 made, after which, although they remained together, any 

 person could easily perceive that they were careful to keep 

 in pairs. I have observed also that the older the birds, the 

 shorter were the preliminaries of their courtship. The bach- 

 elors and old maids, whether in regret or not caring to-be 

 disturbed by the bustle, quietly moved aside and lay down 

 at some distance from the rest." '" Many similar statements 

 with respect to other birds could be cited from this same 

 observer. 



Turning now to domesticated and confined birds, I will 

 commence by giving what little I have learned respecting 

 the courtship of fowls. I have received long letters on this 

 subject from Messrs. Hewitt and Tegetmeier, and almost an 

 essay from the late Mr. Brent. It will be admitted by every 

 one that these gentlemen, so well known from their published 

 works, are careful and experienced observers. They do not 

 believe that the females prefer certain males on account of 

 the beauty of their plumage; but some allowance must be 

 made for the artificial state under which these birds have 

 long been kept. Mr. Tegetmeier is convinced that a game 

 cock, though disfigured by being dubbed and with his 

 hackles trimmed, would be accepted as readily as a male 

 retaining all his natural ornaments. Mr, Brent, however, 

 admits that the beauty of the male probably aids in excit- 

 ing the female; and her a,cquiescence is necessary. Mr. 

 Hewitt is convinced that the union is by no means left to 

 mere chance, for the female almost invariably prefers the 

 most vigorous, defiant, and mettlesome male; hence it is 

 almost useless, as he remarks, "to attempt true breeding if 

 a game cock in good health and condition runs the locality, 

 for almost every hen on leaving the roosting-place will re- 

 sort to, the game cock, even though that bird may not ac- 



«» AuduboH, "Ornitholog Biography," vol. i. pp. 191, iJ49; voL iu pp. 42, 

 215; vol iii. p. 3. 



