272 
BIRD-LIFE. 
Every observer of the habits of birds must remark 
with what winning ways, solicitude, and passion, the 
male woos his mate. During pairing time the bird is 
bodily and intellectually a different being from what it 
is the rest of the year. Its body is not only graced with 
a wedding garment, but its intellect is perceptibly 
strengthened; its whole being more lively, and every 
gift more enhanced. Each species has its own peculiar 
way of pleasing the female, and of winning her love, 
by either tenderness or force. Eagles, Peregrines, 
Falcons, Harriers, Buzzards, and Kestrels, play around 
their mistress for hours together in the air, using every 
grace to win her approbation; the other Falcons and 
Owls call loudly after the female; the Goatsucker strikes 
its wings together with a clacking sound, while encircling 
the chosen one with rapid turns, uttering at the same 
time its cry of “hate, hate,” which one never hears on 
any other occasion, repeating it with unsubdued energy ; 
Swifts and Swallows tumble about in the air in company 
with their mates, calling them oft and loudly, and the 
first lavishes upon his love songs without number; the 
Bee-eater displays all his powers of flight before his 
partner’s eyes, as the latter sits perched on the end of 
some branch or twig, returning to her side every now 
and then brimful of tenderness. The flight of many birds 
is of itself peculiar during the breeding season, doubtless 
with a view of expressing their feelings. Thus, both wild 
and tame Pigeons adopt a special style of flight at this 
season of the year, flapping their wings, rising high in 
the air, circling round and round, and then descending 
again in a slanting direction; Greenfinches, Goldfinches, 
Corn Buntings, Larks, and others, flutter along the 
ground in front of the hen bird in a most extraordinary 
