Chap. XIV. PEEFEEENCE BY THE FEMALE. 117 
ing or coquetting for hours every day, until all seemed 
satisfied with the choice they had made, after which, 
although they remained together, any person could 
easily perceive that they were careful to keep in pairs. 
I have observed also that the older the birds, the 
shorter were the preliminaries of their courtship. 
The bachelors and old maids, whether in regret, or 
not caring to be disturbed by the bustle, quietly 
moved aside and lay down at some distance from the 
rest.”^^ Many similar statements with respect to other 
birds could be cited from this same observer. 
Turning now to domesticated and confined birds, I 
will commence by giving what little I have learnt re- 
specting the courtship of fowls. I have received long 
letters on this subject from Messrs. Hewitt and Teget- 
meier, and almost an essay from the late Mr. Brent. 
It will be admitted by every one that these gentlemen, 
so well known from their published works, are careful 
and experienced observers. They do not believe that the 
females prefer certain males on account, of the beauty of 
their plumage ; but some allowance must be made for 
the artificial state under which they have long been 
kept. Mr. Tegetmeier is convinced that a game-cock, 
though disfigured by being dubbed with his hackles 
trimmed, would be accepted as readily as a male retain- 
ing all his natural ornaments. Mr. Brent, however, 
admits that the beauty of the male probably aids in 
exciting the female ; and her acquiescence is necessary. 
Mr. Hewitt is convinced that the union is by no means 
left to mere chance, for the female almost invariably 
prefers the most vigorous, defiant, and mettlesome male ; 
hence it is almost useless, as he remarks, to attempt 
Audubon, * Ornitholog. Biography,’ vol. i. p. 191, 319; vol. ii. p. 42, 
275 ; Yol. iii. p. 2. 
