168 MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO. 
look out. for the female, anti then resume their struW’ 1 ^ 
and puffing-, moving- with as much rapidity as the nib 1 "! 
-of their gait will admit. During this ceremon* 0 ^ 
approach, the males often encounter each other, 
desperate battles ensue, when the conflict is only ter"" 
nated by the flight or death of the vanquished. . 
This pugnacious disposition is not to be regarded *J 
accidental, but as resulting from a wise and excelbf 
law of nature, who always studies the good of 
species, without regard to the individuals. Did u °, 
females prefer the most perfect of their species, a, \ 
were not the favours of beauty most willingly dispen^i 
to the victorious, feebleness and degeneracy W° l) 
soon mark the animal creation ; but, in consequence 0 
this general rule, the various races of animals are prol’' 1 ’ 
gated by those individuals who are not only most 
he admired for external appearance, but most to 0 
valued for their intrinsic spirit and energy. 
When the object of his pursuit is discovered, if 
female be more than one year old, she also struts, 
even gobbles, evincing much desire ; she turns proud 1 .’ 
round the strutting male, and suddenly opening b e 
wdngs, throws herself towards him, as if to terming 
his procrastination, and, laying herself on the e.-n't®’ 
receives his dilatory caresses. But should he meet ** 
young hen, his strut becomes different, and his m°' ,r 
ments are violently rapid ; sometimes rising in air, ^ 
takes a short circular flight, and on alighting drags J"" 
wings for a distance of eight or ten paces, running at 
full speed, occasionally approaching the timorous be 0 ’ 
and pressing her, until she yields to his solicitation* 
Thus are they mated for the season, though the n 1 * 1 
does not confine himself exclusively to one female, ^ 
does he hesitate to bestow his attentions and end 6 ""* 
ments on several, whenever an opportunity offers. 
One or more females, thus associated, follow th«£ 
favourite, and roost in his immediate neig-hbourhood, 1 
not on the same tree, until they begin to lay, wbf 1 * 
they change their mode of life, in order to save til 011 ’ 
eggs, which the male uniformly breaks if in his poW er ' 
