212 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



The following interested me. Two fighting couples of Red- 

 shanks got together, and I distinctly saw how one of the com- 

 batants of each pair exchanged places, the fighting continuing 

 without the change, as it were, being remarked. This is getting 

 towards the Buffs, but I suppose, as far as it goes, it is much the 

 same with all birds. Still, I think, there can be special mascu- 

 line animosities. 



The pairing of the Redshanks is now sometimes followed by 

 the set run I have spoken of, and sometimes not, and by nothing 

 particular. Either we have, here, an individual variation, or 

 one dependent on the number of times the act has been per- 

 formed — I mean that it may produce less and less after-emotion. 

 Is it possible that out of such purely physical actions may have 

 grown others directed, consciously, towards a certain end? I 

 believe it is, and that an extended study of all the nuptial 

 activities of birds, throughout the world, would throw light on the 

 question. Almost anything, I think, may pass into an antic — 

 that is to say, an antic may grow out of almost anything. 



I have now seen a more perfect example of the Redshank's 

 courtship than any I have yet noticed. The male, approaching 

 the female, ran about her twice or thrice, in so many half- 

 circles, fanning his tail as he did so, and inclining his body 

 towards her. He acted, in fact, much as does the cock Pheasant 

 under similar circumstances, but displayed the tail only, instead 

 of the wing and shoulder. The same conscious look and some- 

 what hectoring deportment were observable. Having gone 

 through these actions, he next, standing just behind her, com- 

 menced waving his wings in the way I have described. Whilst 

 he did this the female turned sideways towards him, so that he 

 must have come into her fullest view, and she most certainly 

 looked not only pleased with, but quite wrapt in the performance 

 — in fact, fascinated by it. After some fifteen to twenty seconds, 

 perhaps, of this waving, the male rose into the air, and hung 

 there fluttering, the female stood to receive him, and the rite 

 was accomplished. Here then, at last, we have the complete 

 courting actions of the male Redshanks,* in which he first shows 

 his white tail to the best advantage, and then makes the most of 

 his wings, the silvery grey of whose under surface can only be 

 seen when they are extended — all this in the most purposeful 



* But see p. 213. 



