SEXUAL SELECTION IN BIRDS. 209 



April 15th. —Looking up from my note-book some little while 

 ago, I saw a Eedshanks hanging in the air on rapidly waving 

 wings, immediately above another one — the immediate prologue 

 to the performance of the nuptial rite. In another moment it 

 would have taken place, but just as the male bird descended the 

 female moved a few steps forward, entirely frustrating his design. 

 He looked quite disconcerted at this move on her part, and did 

 not make any fresh attempt. This is a good illustration of the 

 power of the hen bird in such matters, and how essential her 

 co-operation is. 



Another case of rejected addresses. Here the male, if I give 

 the right interpretation of the matter, was only in the first stage* 

 of solicitation — standing, that is, and waving his wings before 

 the female — when she flew at him, and then he walked away with 

 his tail fanned. This again goes to show the necessity of obtain- 

 ing the female's consent, and for what other purpose can the 

 wings be waved in this striking and banner-like manner ? Here, 

 then, we see an unsuccessful wooing of the female Eedshanks by 

 the male. But, if she were indifferent, why should she fly at 

 him ? and if she can be irritated, surely she can be won. And 

 what about the male ? The unanswered — the seemingly un- 

 answerable—question of why else should he act in this way is 

 presented here, with peculiar force, to my mind. He always acts 

 so, so far as I have seen, as a preliminary to coition, and with 

 that end in view. That he is addressing himself to the female, 

 and to her only, and that she knows that he is, is obvious, quite 

 manifest, not to be doubted by anyone who has seen the thing. 

 It makes no difference whether other males are about or not; nor 

 do males, when fighting or about to fight, act in this way. The 

 war-dance theory, therefore, is untenable here, though not per- 

 haps more so than in other cases where the male bird obviously 

 woos the female. That there are war-dances amongst birds, 

 and that this may have been the origin of some displays, is 

 possible, but, if so, then it is not for nothing that the one thing 

 has been turned into the other. 



I cannot be sure, but I think it is these very same two Red- 

 shanks — where the attempt, on the part of the male, has twice 

 been frustrated by the female — who have now paired. Afterwards 

 * As I then thought it. But see on. 



