424 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



performance. (5) The apparent indifference of the Beeves, as 

 illustrated, more particularly, by one of them. (6) The proba- 

 bility, if not certainty, that this indifference was only apparent, 

 as shown by the particular Beeve in question caressing, or 

 touching significantly, at least sis times, one particular Buff 

 and no other. This she did by pecking and nibbling with her 

 bill amongst the feathers of his head, he sinking prostrate to 

 receive such caress, and remaining so whilst it was administered. 

 His action as he approached her, and then sank down — as he did 

 many times, in common with many other birds — was most 

 significant. So was that of the others. He, however, was the 

 one bird thus honoured, his plumage, light yellow and white — the 

 crown with snowy plumes — distinguishing him easily from any 

 other. Yet this marked bestowal of favour went hand in hand 

 with an apparent indifference in the general look and behaviour 

 of the bestower of it, the act itself alone suggesting the contrary. 

 (7) The fact that, in spite of the great commotion going on 

 about the Beeve — the great, swollen, rushing, excited birds 

 looked as though they would sweep her away — there was yet 

 never any interference to prevent her acting as she did, or to 

 punish the bird she favoured. (8) The very pretty and effective 

 picture presented by the assembled Buffs, as others of them flew 

 in. They not only looked up, with necks stretched, flapped their 

 wings, and stood a-tip-toe, but also made— many of them — little 

 anticipatory jumps. As all looked at the flying birds, this made 

 that they all stood turned one way, and the effect was very 

 striking. (9) The sudden away-flying, from time to time, of all 

 the birds together, when they would make but a short circle or 

 two round about— sometimes, I think, but one — not far above 

 the ground, and then come down again. It was often the Beeve 

 that started these flights, and she did not always return with the 

 others. 



It would appear, then, that this is really the courting-place, 

 not the lists, of the Buff — the fighting being merely incidental — 

 but how lengthy, how almost interminable, does this courtship 

 appear to be, and how gradually, it would seem, do the Beeves' 

 sexual feelings become sufficiently developed to urge them to 

 their final expression. And even when they do, as seemed the 

 case a few days previously, when the weather was warmer and 



