256 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



more variety of attention, owing, partly, to the way in which 

 her more special admirer would leave her, to run fiercely out at 

 rival, though often quiescent, and almost indifferent, males, a 

 good way off, when, as she walked on, always in the same 

 nervous, hesitating way, she came within the sphere of other 

 more active suitors. One of these wooed her in a very much 

 swifter, brisker, more hurrying way, not nearly so measured or 

 pompous — but this seemed to take far less hold of her fancy, 

 and, in a word, after acting more or less in this way for a long 

 time, and disappointing, and well-nigh exhausting, the patience 

 of several males — but none more so, had he not been inexhaus- 

 tible, than the one I have specially mentioned — she at last flew 

 away without having been prevailed upon — for this was far more 

 the impression made upon me by her conduct than that of coquetry. 

 It was as though, amongst a number of magnets, the drawing 

 power of which was plainly, though variously, apparent, not one 

 was sufficiently powerful to draw quite effectively — and this was 

 my own reading of the drama. 



Another courtship was interesting as giving rise to an 

 unmistakable exhibition of preference on the part of the hen 

 bird concerned. The latter had been courted by a certain male, 

 but another male had interfered with this, and was now courting 

 her himself, when, making a distinct double-back (by distinct I 

 mean that it was obviously intended) to her old wooer, by which 

 she as patently avoided his substitute, she immediately crouched 

 to him, a stratagem which, however, was only partly effective, 

 owing to the prompt interference of the jealous rival. Here, 

 then, was an evident instance of choice on the part of the 

 female. 



Another hen was courted by several males, who, as is much 

 more the case with these birds than with Euffs, mutually wrecked 

 each other's chances of success. The most marked feature here 

 was the conduct of one particular cock, who, instead of courting 

 in the orthodox manner, resorted entirely to force. There were 

 some four or five attempts of this nature, from the last of which 

 the hen seemed only just able to free herself, when she, at once, 

 flew away. The attempts of this unruly male were always 

 resented and interfered with by the other ones, but he was 

 sometimes almost too quick for them, so that, had it not been 



