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THE AMKRIi J .V AM 77 RMJST [Vol. XLl 



Cypseliformes, and the Eurylsemiformes, although I know of no 

 species or family among these several groups that are not strictly 

 monogamous by nature, while they may differ very widely in 

 their habits of nidification. Uiifortuimtely. we sti]| know very 

 little about the life-histories of the iyiv-l)ii(l^ of Aii>trah'a (Me- 

 nura), and some naturalists believe tiieni to l)e polyginious. 

 Again, Darwin quoting Lesson says "that l)irds of paradise, so 

 remarkable for their sexual differences, are polygamous, but 

 Mr. Wallace doubts whether he had sufficient evidence."^ 



In closing this article it is well to note that what T have set forth 

 in it has probably long been known to the niajorily of oeneral 

 and observing naturalists of each veneration, bnt not >o to the 

 average reading pul)lic, and, unfortiniatcly lutt to a i;i<-at many 

 people to whom the knowle.jov would be of con^idt^rabh- interest 

 if not of })ositive vahie. 



It is clearly shown that birds, as a Chis. anion- \-erU'brates, in 



more easily ..xphiinc. L That thr s-iti>fa< tioii of the ..'xnal instinct 

 and the (■(|iiaiiy imperative demand, on the part of nature, that 

 the species he j)erp<'tuated, if po>>il,h', i. the e-^-ential part of the 



iar with general biolooy, and the i>a.t an.l pn-ent life histories of 

 anhnals on tlii> plaiHl, woid.l for an instant claim that any of these 

 mating habits in bird> ^^■vvv of a criminal nature. It i> oidy the 



