SEXUAL SELECTION IN BIRDS. 373 



and there, about the throat. Yet neither of the two, as far as I 

 can judge, have yet united themselves with any Reeves, nor have 

 the latter made any advances to them. They have never done 

 anything more, in fact, than dance about at their posts, whilst 

 more fortunate males were being chosen on other parts of the 

 ground. Nor were any Reeves near them at the time of this 

 fight — at least I did not see any, though some were present. 

 These and similar facts incline me to believe that though the 

 fighting of male birds in the breeding-time is, in its origin, on 

 account of the female, yet that it has now a tendency to develop 

 as a separate factor. 



May 2nd. — Down at about 6.30, much too late, but in time 

 to see two clear cases of selection on the part of as many Reeves. 

 The first one walked up to the black-ruffed bird — latterly so 

 much distinguished — and touched him on the head with her bill. 

 During the performance of the nuptial rite which followed upon 

 this, three Ruffs, any one of them entirely a match for the chosen 

 bird, stood close by, turned towards it with heads bowed in 

 that strange set attitude which (as well as the quite prostrate 

 one) Ruffs habitually assume in the presence of the Reeve, 

 and which indicates strong sexual feeling. There were also 

 several other Ruffs more or less near. It was impossible not 

 to be very much struck with this. These three birds were 

 all wooers of any Reeves who came to that part of the ground, 

 and had actually been so, if I mistake not, of this very one, 

 on the way to the Ruff of her choice. They were rivals, in fact, 

 yet they stood thus submissive to the choice of the Reeve. I 

 know not, at any rate, what other interpretation to put upon 

 their behaviour, and, if it be the correct one, it certainly bears 

 witness, in a remarkable manner, to the truth of Darwin's views, 

 those views which have received so little justice in the only way 

 that justice can ever be done to them — that of careful and pro- 

 longed observation. 



Coming to the second example of selection on the part of a 

 Reeve — the second, I mean, this morning — in this instance the 

 choice, though quite as apparent, was not so successfully made. 

 The Reeve in question walked down towards a fine brown-ruffed 

 bird whose head-plumage was of a deep chocolate colour, ap- 

 proaching to black. On her way she was courted by a fine and 



