SEXUAL SELECTION IN BIRDS. 377 



almost as large as the other, and lying, like it, amongst pieces 

 of cut turf that have grown to the soil, having, in fact, just the 

 same characteristics and appearance. During the time I watched 

 it — lying flat on the ground at only a short distance — there were 

 some ten or twelve Ruffs there as a maximum, but, more often, 

 from five or sis to seven or eight. Of Reeves there were, at one 

 time, some eight or nine, but usually only one or two, or three 

 or four— quite as peopled, therefore, as is the other resort at a 

 similar hour. Here, again, I saw good evidence of the power of 

 refusal possessed by the Reeves, for when pestered by Ruffs that 

 they did not want, on their becoming too obstreperous, they, on 

 several occasions, flew off. At length, however, at about 5.30, 

 one of them walked over, in a way not to be misunderstood— or 

 that I, at any rate, cannot now mistake— to a Ruff at the further 

 side of the ground, who had been the least forward of any, 

 choosing him out of, perhaps, half a dozen, and nuptial relations 

 would certainly, thereupon, have been entered into had it not 

 been for the backwardness of the Ruff itself. This Reeve, how- 

 ever, stayed by him, at first alone and then in company with 

 some three or four other Reeves that subsequently flew in, and 

 between one of this group and the Ruff in question coition was 

 ultimately effected. I have little doubt, myself, that it was with 

 the Reeve who had first singled him out, but, in any case, this 

 bird had shown her partiality quite plainly before. To my eyes 

 this particular Ruff — a stranger to the ground I have watched — 

 seemed, rather, the plainest than the handsomest of those pre- 

 sent. Closer inspection, however, showed that he had a full 

 and ample ruff of speckled black and silver or silver-grey, with 

 velvet-black head and head-plumes, and a face the naked skin of 

 which was of a delicate greenish shade. Perhaps, therefore, 

 though there are showier birds, this one is more aesthetically 

 handsome. His ruff is really a very fine one. Here, then, is 

 one more case of marked predilection on the part of the female 

 bird. 



This second pairing-ground is some three hundred and eighty 

 paces from the other one, and almost in a straight line with it. 

 As said before, it is almost if not quite as large as the other, 

 and has the same appearance of having been habitually used by 

 the birds year after year. It accounts for many new birds which 

 Zool 4th ser. vol. XI., October, 1907. 2 G 



