SEXUAL SELECTION IN BIBDS. 421 



April 21st. — A very unfortunate morning. Getting up about 

 five, I got to the place not much after six. As I came up I saw 

 a number of Buffs and Eeeves, and my experience having 

 hitherto been that, upon walking quickly up and getting into 

 position the birds that flew off soon returned, I did so now. I 

 was, however, very disappointed. They did, indeed, return very 

 shortly, but only to fly off again, without even settling, and this 

 they continued to do — the Buffs, that is to say, for I never saw 

 the Eeeves again — time after time, just hovering over the place, 

 and going on, except one bird, which for a long time stood there, 

 and, when it flew off, continued to come back. Latterly he was 

 joined by one or two others out of the flock, but they stayed 

 only a few moments, and then followed the rest, taking, as a 

 rule, the staunch one with them. This continued till past eight, 

 when, seeing no prospect of more interesting developments, I 

 returned to my village and breakfast. Getting down again 

 between 10 and 11, I crept gradually up to the place, putting 

 up a few birds that were there. It is now 1, but, though a 

 sunny day, and much warmer than it has been latterly, there is 

 as yet no sign of their foregathering. 



From about 3 the birds began to come in, for some time 

 all Buffs, but by 4.30 or so there had been first a single Beeve, 

 and then three, with as many Buffs. It is curious, however, 

 that nothing like the same effect seemed to be produced in the 

 latter by their presence, as on other occasions, or, later, on this. 

 For at about 5, when a single Beeve flew in — I think with a 

 Buff — making then, or soon afterwards, ten Buffs to one Beeve, 

 there appeared to be more excitement on her account. There 

 was, however, no fighting — a spring or two, once or twice — 

 nothing that could be called such. The one marked feature was 

 the couchant or prostrate posture which all the birds assumed, 

 seeming to be pressed into the ground, though some had the 

 hinder part of the body a little raised from it. When I could get 

 a good view of these it seemed to me as if the anal parts were 

 moving in the way I have before indicated — but again I had to 

 distinguish such movements from that given to the feathers by 

 the ceaseless wind. It certainly seemed now that every bird 

 had assumed the prostrate attitude on account of the Beeve. 

 As for her, she seemed very indifferent. Having alighted and 



