ISO A HISTORY OF BIRDS 



in use stand out like a ruff just below the head, while, as if in 

 sympathy, the whole of the body feathers are set on end, and 

 the wings are dropped, as in the Turkey and Peacock. 



The displays appear to take place early in the morning, 

 when parties of from a dozen to fifty of both sexes assemble 

 on some high dry knolls where the grass is short. Having 

 gathered together, the more eager males immediately begin to 

 set themselves in order for the morning's revels, the first part of 

 the performance apparently consisting in the passive display — 

 the inflation of the sacs and erection of the feathers. 



Next, some " proud cock, in order to complete his triumph, 

 will rush forward at his best speed for two or three rods through 

 the midst of the love-sick damsels, pouring out as he goes a 

 booming noise, almost a hoarse roar, only more subdued, which 

 may be heard for at least two miles in the still morning air. 

 This heavy booming sound is by no means harsh or unpleasant, 

 on the contrary, it is soft and even harmonious. When stand- 

 ing in the open prairie at early dawn listening to hundreds of 

 different voices pitched on different keys, coming from every 

 direction and from various distances, the listener is rather 

 soothed than excited. 



" Every few minutes this display is repeated. I have seen 

 not only one, but more than twenty cocks going through this 

 funny operation at once, but then they seem careful not to 

 run against each other, for they have not yet got to the 

 fighting point. After a little while the lady-birds begin 

 to show an interest in the proceedings by moving about 

 quickly, a few yards at a time, and then standing still a short 

 time. 



" The party breaks up when the sun is half an hour high to 

 be repeated the next morning and every morning for a week 

 or two before all make satisfactory matches. It is toward the 

 latter part of the love-season that the fighting takes place 

 among the cocks, probably by two who have fallen in love 

 with the same sweetheart whose modesty prevents her from 

 selecting between them." 



The display of the Frigate-bird, though of a very different 

 kind, is no less remarkable. And we owe to Dr. C. W. 

 Andrews the best account of this which has yet been published. 

 His descriptions are based on observations made upon Fregata 



