136 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



again, throwing itself forward, stands almost perpendicularly on 

 the breast, at the same time pecking at and, I think, seizing the 

 bits of grass near, in the beak (this pecking during the process of 

 rolling has become, lately, more marked). The other Peewit now 

 comes right up to the rolling bird, and appears to examine its 

 lower tail-coverts or the parts adjacent. I cannot say certainly 

 whether it actually touches them with the bill, but it appears to 

 do so.* Upon this the rolling one flies off, and the other, falling 

 forward, presses with the breast (I think also pecking), not in 

 exactly the same place, but just near it. Two other birds are 

 now rolling in a most marked and violent manner, within a few 

 yards of each other. When I say " marked and violent," what 

 I mean is this : The breast is pressed upon the grass, the whole 

 body inclining sharply up from it. The wings project like two 

 horns on each side of the tail, which is bent down between them 

 in a nervous, Virile manner. All at once a spasm or wave of 

 energy seems to pass through the bird; the tail is bent still 

 more forcibly down — the body and wings remaining as before — 

 and, with some most energetic waggles from side to side, the 

 generative act appears to be performed. It may not be so ; it 

 may be something essentially different, but it has exactly that 

 appearance. 



In speaking, henceforth, of a bird's rolling, I shall always 

 intend to designate these actions — except, of course, to the extent 

 to which I may qualify them. 



April 2nd. — Two Peewits have just paired. I had noticed no 

 prior antics. Having paired, one of them — I am not quick 

 enough with the glasses to say which — runs a little way over the 

 ground, and commences to roll. In a moment or two the other 

 one runs up, looking most interested, and immediately sits along 

 on the exact spot, the first one having now risen and standing 

 aside. The last-come bird now rises also, and both stand looking 

 at the place where they have just rolled, and making little pecks 

 at it with their bills. Subsequently one of them does this beside 

 — but not quite on — the spot. Then the last comer walks a 

 little away, so that I lose sight of it; whilst the other one, on 



* I have lately seen something resembling this, but very much more 

 marked and peculiar, in a pair of our small passeres — a strange affair of 

 which I made a full note. 



