THE POULTRY-YARD. 273 



moral advantages of monogamy. Matrimony 

 among the polygamous birds seems to be based 

 chiefly upon meretricious display and the exer- 

 cise of brute force. Birds which mate perma- 

 nently are scarcely ever sexually decorated, nor 

 are they in the habit of indulging in brawls as 

 part of the process of courtship. Evidently, 

 from the Quaker - like dress and disposition 

 which many of them display, it is their custom 

 to settle such affairs upon quite another basis ; 

 and I think one may say, without being accused 

 of conferring imaginary qualities upon them, 

 that they are actuated to some extent by an 

 appreciation of the higher moral attributes. In 

 a less degfree the same is true of the birds 

 which are content with a single mate, although 

 they may regularly avail themselves of nature's 

 autumnal divorce laws to try a new connubial 

 venture. It must be admitted that chanticleer, 

 with his gay coat and gallant bearing, makes 

 much more of a figure in the world than the 

 sober-coated monogamous quail, and his osten- 

 tatious politeness to the members of his harem 

 is more impressive to the superficial observer 

 than the commonplace domestic virtues of the 

 partridge. 



S 



