LAW OF BATTLE. 
43 
t'n 
XIII. 
(( m ales of the wild musk-duck ( Cairina moscliata ) ; 
a ud where these fights have occurred the river 
‘‘ is covered for some distance with feathers.” 8 Birds 
"hich seem ill-adapted for fighting engage in fierce 
conflicts ; thus with the pelican the stronger males 
j 1 ' v ° away the weaker ones, snapping with their 
'’'Re beaks and giving heavy blows with their wings. 
5 a] e snipes fight together, “tugging and pushing each 
( other with their bills in the most curious manner 
lrn aginable.” Some few species are believed never to 
1 pB t ; this is tlie case, according to Audubon, with one 
°| ,ll « woodpeckers of the United States {Ticus ciuratus), 
a though “ the hens are followed by even halt a dozen 
their gay suitors.” 9 
Tl *e males of many birds are larger than the females, 
this no doubt is an advantage to them in their 
titles with their rivals, and has been gained through 
ae xual selection. The difference in size between the 
"o sexes is carried to an extreme point in several 
Australian species ; thus the male musk-duck (Biziura) 
a !^ fl'e male Cincloramphus cruralis (allied to our 
j'd’jts) are by measurement actually twice as large as 
weir respective females. 10 With many other birds the 
6l uales are larger tbau the males; aud as formerly 
Remarked, the explanation often given, namely that the 
crjutles have most of the work in feeding their young, 
1 1 uot suffice. In some few cases, as we shall here- 
a ^ er s ee, the females apparently have acquired their 
Sweater size and strength for the sake of conquering 
er females and obtaining possession of the males. 
Sehoinburgk, in ‘Journal of B. Geograph. Soc.’ vol. xiii. 
sel * ^“hUological Biography,’ vol. i. p. 191. Bor pelicans and snipes, 
1. !!}• lii - P- 381, 177. 
Gould, ‘Handbook of Birds of Australia,’ vol. i. p. 395; vol. n. p. 383. 
