SEXUAL SELECTION IN BIBDS. 207 



After a little the female would retire, and, the conflict then 

 sinking, all would go on as before, till her next participatory 

 visit. 



After this had continued for more than half an hour another 

 interesting thing happened. A third male was seen approach- 

 ing, and, after a while, he entered into the area of the conflict, 

 with a view, as it seemed, of joining in it. But the female now 

 came running up, and flew, in what seemed a hostile manner, at 

 one of the birds. Which it was I could not say, as a certainty, 

 not being able to keep the three distinct ; but, as a result of her 

 conduct, the intruder — for it must have been he, and as such he 

 was evidently considered by the female — was driven from the 

 lists. Now there could be no confusion, and the hen bird, after 

 a short interval, flew at him again, and continued to do so till 

 she had driven him quite away, when she returned to where the 

 other two were still contending, and continued to act in the way 

 I have described. At last the three birds flew away together, one 

 separating itself from the other two when they had got to some 

 distance. Which was the one it was, of course, impossible then 

 to say. No interpretation, therefore, can be placed on the fact, 

 and, later on, I saw them all back, as before, the two males near 

 one another, and the female standing some little way off. The 

 rivalry, however, seemed to have burnt itself out — at least, till 

 4 p.m., when I was called elsewhere. 



So far, therefore, from being an indifferent spectator, or non- 

 spectator — as it is so often asserted that the hen bird, in such 

 cases, is- — this hen Kentish Plover not only took a keen interest 

 — at least, by fits and starts — in this long contest, but appa- 

 rently considered that two rivals was the proper number, driving 

 off another bird when it seemed to contemplate making a third. 

 This may have some bearing on the common sight, in spring- 

 time, of three birds, and no more, flying together — three Larks, 

 three Meadow-Pipits, three Fieldfares, three Peewits, &c, &c. 

 Also, if we think of the female bird as able and ready, on 

 occasion, to drive off any male, vi et armis, we shall the less 

 easily regard her as the mere passive submitter to the latter's 

 superior force. 



Have watched again, for a good half-hour, the continual 

 chasings — varied with one real combat — on foot and wing, of two 



