SEXUAL SELECTION IN BIRDS. 205 



but for short intervals — over a certain area of the strand and 

 water, beyond which they do not go. The pursuit, though often 

 vigorous, cannot be said to be sustained, since when one bird 

 settles, the other will often make a circle, or rather an ellipse or 

 two, round about, before alighting near him, which, however, he 

 always, before long, does, either to pursue or be pursued. Again, 

 whilst flying after one another, one will sweep away, or purposely 

 slacken his speed, should he be the pursuer, thereby increasing 

 the distance between them. The thing, therefore, has more the 

 appearance of sport than earnest ; but all at once the birds 

 close, and there is a struggle — violent, prolonged, unmistakable 

 — after which all goes on as before. 



The above account does not describe all such contentions. 

 Another pair, for instance, simply run after each other in the 

 ordinary way, going backwards and forwards, and fly only when 

 they fly at each other. Then, for a little, there is a close pursuit 

 on the wing, but they come down very quickly, and continue to 

 chase one another on foot, as before. Here, then, we have the 

 fighting part of the courtship of Kedshanks ; but where is the 

 female, for whom it is all about ? Either she is not there, or, 

 feeding at some distance along the shore, she is, or appears to be, 

 entirely indifferent. All at once, however, a third bird flies upon 

 the scene, and this — for she does not stay long — occurs now and 

 again throughout this prolonged but tame campaign.* Is she 

 the female ? The sexes being alike, it is impossible to say whether 

 she is one at all, for neither in her manner nor in that of the 

 two males, whilst she stays, is there anything that can be caught 

 hold of. Still, these successive appearances, suggesting that 

 each time it is the same bird, are significant. 



When the males, in these affairs, actually fight — and this is 

 seldom, at present, compared to the time they spend in running 

 after, or often by the side of, one another, and, as it were, offering 

 to do so — then each springs into the air, and endeavours to strike 

 down with his feet upon the other, who of course tries to do like- 

 wise. Thus there is a tendency for the two to mount one above 

 the other, alternately, as so many birds do. No doubt there is 

 scope for great things, but as yet there has been nothing very 

 redoubtable. 



'■'■'- I watched it for more than an hour. 



