412 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



distances, his body and wings occasionally shivering with sup- 

 pressed excitement, and now and then, on approaching her very 

 closely, he utters a strange trilling or "buzzing" note — impos- 

 sible of translation — waving his wings gently. At other times he 

 will dart at her, and pursue her with lightning speed through the 

 trees. Again, after remaining for a few seconds on an upper 

 bough in a motionless and curiously constrained attitude, he 

 will float downwards towards the female with slow-flapping 

 wings — a dainty performance, which lives in the memory. The 

 female is much less demonstrative, the only sign of emotion 

 being an occasional shiver of the wings. 



Although much more frequent and energetic during the first 

 hours of daylight, these "courting" habits are commonly in 

 evidence in modified form during the day. I have witnessed 

 them as late as 5 p.m. 



Coition, her readiness for which the female signifies by a 

 gentle waving motion of the wings, takes place at various times 

 of the day, most frequently, apparently, in early morning, but 

 at times late in the afternoon. In two pairs of birds this year 

 (1910) it was first noticed three and two days respectively before 

 the laying of the first egg. Probably each egg requires separate 

 fertilization, although it is a matter of very great difficulty to 

 obtain complete evidence in wild birds. It is certain, at any 

 rate, that more than one pairing may take place ; I have noticed 

 coition in species representative of such widely different families 

 as Willow-Wren, Moorhen, and Long-eared Owl, after part of 

 the clutch had been deposited. 



Nest-building devolves entirely on the female. I have at 

 least never yet seen the male take any share in the work. While 

 it is in progress he pays only irregular attention to his mate, 

 pursuing her playfully on occasion, but frequently wandering 

 some distance away from her. Eestlessness and excitability still 

 mark him however. Materials are usually fetched from only a 

 short distance, and the hen frequently gets into the habit of 

 visiting certain spots in search of them, even giving herself un- 

 necessary trouble to do so. The rate of construction appears to 

 depend largely on the physical condition of the female, and in 

 some cases is very rapid, building proceeding at intervals all 

 day, and nests may contain the first egg within six days from 



