102 
SKXUAL SELECTION : BIRDS. 
Part IL 
and the M. Alberti scratches for itself shallow holes, or, 
as they are called by the natives, corroborying places^ 
where it is believed both sexes assemble. The meet- 
ings of the M, superba are sometimes very large ; and 
an account has lately been published^ by a traveller, 
who heard in a valley beneath him, thickly covered 
with scrub, a din which completely astonished ” him ; 
on crawling onwards he beheld to his amazement about 
one hundred and fifty of the magnificent lyre-cocks, 
ranged in order of battle, and fighting with inde- 
scribable fury.’’ The bowers of the Bower-birds are 
the resort of both sexes during the breeding-season ; 
and “ here the males meet and contend with each other 
for the favours of the female, and here the latter 
assemble and coquet with the males.” With two of 
the genera, the same bower is resorted to during many 
years.^ 
The common magpie (Corvus pica, Linn.), as I have 
been informed by the Eev. W. Darwin Box, used to 
assemble from all parts of Delamere Forest, in order 
to celebrate the great magpie marriage.” Some 
years ago these birds abounded in extraordinary num- 
bers, so that a gamekeeper killed in one morning 
nineteen males, and another killed by a single shot 
seven birds at roost together. Whilst they were so 
numerous, they had the habit very early in the spring 
of assembling at particular spots, where they could be 
seen in flocks, chattering, sometimes fighting, bustling 
and flying about the trees. The whole affair was 
evidently considered by the birds as of the highest 
importance. Shortly after the meeting they all sepa- 
rated, and were then observed by Mr. Fox and others 
® Quoted by Mr. T. W. Wood in the ‘ Student,’ April, 1870, p. 125. 
^ Gould, ‘ Handbook of Birds of Australia,’ vol. i. p. 300, 308, 448,« 
451. On the ptarmigan, above alluded to, see Lloyd, ibid. p. 129. 
