OriiAP. XIV. 
LENGTH OF COURTSHIP. 
101 
Paradise congregate. In this latter case it is not ex- 
pressly stated that the females meet on the same trees, 
but the hunters, if not specially asked, would not pro- 
bably mention their presence, as their skins are value- 
less. Small parties of an African weaver (Plocms) con- 
gregate, during the breeding-season, and perform for 
hours their graceful evolutions. Large numbers of the 
Solitary snipe (Seolopax major) assemble during the 
dusk in a morass ; and the same place is frequented for 
the same purpose during successive years; here they 
may be seen running about like so many large rats,” 
puffing out their feathers, flapping their wings, and 
uttering the strangest cries.^ 
Some of the above-mentioned birds, namely, the 
black-cock, capercailzie, pheasant-grouse, the ruff, the 
Solitary snipe, and perhaps some others, are, as it is 
believed, polygamists. With such birds it might have 
been thought that the stronger males would simply 
have driven away the weaker, and then at once have 
taken possession of as many females as possible ; but if 
it be indispensable for the male to excite or please the 
female, we can understand the length of the courtship 
and the congregation of so many individuals of both 
sexes at the same spot. Certain species which are 
strictly monogamous likewise hold nuptial assemblages.; 
this seems to be the case in Scandinavia with one of 
the ptarmigans, and their leks last from the middle 
of March to the middle of May. In Australia the lyre- 
bird or Menura superla forms small round hillocks,” 
^ With respect to the assemblages of tlie above named grouse see 
Brehm, ‘ Thieiieben,’ B. iv. s. 350 ; also L. Lloyd, ‘ Game Birds of 
Sweden,’ 1867, p. 19, 78. Richardson, ‘ Fauna Bor. Americana/ Birds, 
p. 362. References in regard to the assemblages of other birds. have 
previously been given. On Paradisea see Wallace, in ‘ Annals and Mag. 
of Nat. Hist.’ vol. xx. 1857, p. 412. On the snipe,. Lloyd, ibid. p. 221. 
