27
Back Bay Basin, 
Boston, Mass.
1909.
Feb. 27
(No 27)
him closely and bobbing her head up and down a
few times. To this salutation he would immediately
respond by a corresponding action before beginning his
more elaborate performances again. Sometimes the
female would suddenly assume the crouching posture
which would be instantly imitated by one or more
males. Once I saw a bird which was unquestionably
a female first nod, next crouch and then take
the bowsprit pose. This behaviour on her part
created intense excitement among the attendant drakes
who, to the number of at least five or six, crowded
close about her for a moment but were quickly
dispersed, I thought by some aggressive movement 
on her part although the whole thing occurred so
quickly that I could not see exactly what happened
at the end.
Whistler courtship.
The bow by both sexes
The female
The female crouches
Female takes bowsprit pose
Excitement among males