296 
BIRD-LIFE. 
Partridge, Greek Partridge, and Ptarmigan; and, at the 
same time, it must be borne in mind, that the term poly¬ 
gamy can only with justice be applied to Ostriches, who 
do, in reality, assemble a number of hens around them: 
whereas, in speaking of the other birds, the term many- 
married, if we may coin such a word, must be applied ; 
for the desire is reciprocal, each hen being willing to 
give herself to any male bird without the slightest 
hesitation, resistance, or objection; she, therefore, lives 
as much amid a plurality of males as the latter does of 
females. The necessity for this does not appear evident ; 
the reason can, therefore, scarcely be aught else than an 
inordinate desire. 
With the above birds, and others of similar habits, 
conjugal links, to speak rightly, are out of the question. 
The males only trouble themselves about the hen birds 
so long as they both feel the calls of nature. They are, 
without exception, all quarrelsome individuals, fighting 
for dear life with every other male that comes across 
their path, and appear, indeed, especially fitted for such 
combats. I here allude more particularly to the armour 
of thick elastic hackles with which the Game Cock is 
furnished, both at the back of the head and over the 
whole neck, by the end of winter, and which soon fall off 
after the breeding season is past: during the time they 
are worn they serve as a splendid defence against even 
powerful blows from the beak of an adversary, as well 
as being handsome adjuncts to the bird’s beauty. 
Almost all males of species who live in a state of 
polygamy are remarkable for their comparatively superior 
size and beauty; they are almost half as large again as 
the female, and generally much brighter-coloured than 
the latter: their virility appears to be highly developed. 
