280 
BIRD-LIFE. 
the Woodpecker, who drums away on some dead branch 
with the same instrument, so loudly, indeed, that the 
noise can be heard more than half a mile off. The 
Bittern, to which we have already alluded, must be 
mentioned here, as it renders its cry more powerful by 
immersing its beak in the water. 
Though the female receives the addresses of the male 
without the slightest pretence at coyness, but rather, on 
the contrary, if she has lost her spouse, accepts the next 
best who may turn up; yet the latter has to win many a 
hard-fought battle before he can enjoy peace and quiet¬ 
ness in company with the “ fair one.” I say “ fair one,” 
but am obliged to confess that from all the reliable 
information we can gather on the subject of bird-life the 
term can only be used in a qualified sense; for the 
flattering or, at least, complimentary appellation of “ fair 
sex,” cannot, with justice, well be applied to female 
birds, and, what is more, it is a recognized fact that, for 
the most part, the cock bird is handsomer than the hen. 
Nevertheless, I doubt not that in the eyes of a gallant 
male a well-grown hen bird is quite as beautiful as is a 
pretty girl to one of us ; and possibly he may think 
more amiable, also. In the married life of birds 
the hen plays quite a passive part, vis-a-vis of her 
partner, who, from the very beginning, assumes the 
position of lord and master. Every female—if there be 
rival aspirants, and they are rarely wanting—is won by 
hard fighting, and accords her love right willingly to 
the conqueror. This engenders the unbounded jealousy 
which exists between birds of the same species; and, as 
there are more males than females, if is clear that this 
passion is stronger among the former than it is with the 
latter. 
