COURTSHIPS OF LABRADOR BIRDS 
female. That the female does take part to this 
limited extent in the nuptial performance, I 
have, however, convinced myself. Although 
this performance is more striking than that of 
the eider just related, the family resemblance 
can be detected. 
There are many variations of this curious 
action. It may be curtailed, so that the thrust- 
ing of the head up into the air alone re- 
mains, or it may be limited to the upward 
thrust of the head and the jerk to and from 
the rump. When the birds are at such a dis- 
tance that the note can not be heard, it is 
impossible to say when it is emitted, but I 
have observed birds close at hand go through 
the performance silently. I have also seen 
them thrust out the head in front in such a 
way as apparently to scoop up the water and 
then elevate the head, the bill pointing straight 
up but closed as if they were drinking the water. 
Sometimes the head is held on the rump for sev- 
eral seconds before it is snapped into place. 
A male after ardently performing the court- 
ship actions near a female flew off with his 
head low about a hundred yards. The female 
swam rapidly after him with head stretched 
93 
