<h2><SPAN name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"></SPAN> CHAPTER XIV.<br/> BIRDS—continued.</h2>
<p class="letter">
Choice exerted by the female—Length of courtship—Unpaired
birds—Mental qualities and taste for the beautiful—Preference or
antipathy shewn by the female for particular males—Variability of
birds—Variations sometimes abrupt—Laws of variation—Formation
of ocelli—Gradations of character—Case of Peacock, Argus pheasant,
and Urosticte.</p>
<p>When the sexes differ in beauty or in the power of singing, or in producing
what I have called instrumental music, it is almost invariably the male who
surpasses the female. These qualities, as we have just seen, are evidently of
high importance to the male. When they are gained for only a part of the year
it is always before the breeding-season. It is the male alone who elaborately
displays his varied attractions, and often performs strange antics on the
ground or in the air, in the presence of the female. Each male drives away, or
if he can, kills his rivals. Hence we may conclude that it is the object of the
male to induce the female to pair with him, and for this purpose he tries to
excite or charm her in various ways; and this is the opinion of all those who
have carefully studied the habits of living birds. But there remains a question
which has an all important bearing on sexual selection, namely, does every male
of the same species excite and attract the female equally? Or does she exert a
choice, and prefer certain males? This latter question can be answered in the
affirmative by much direct and indirect evidence. It is far more difficult to
decide what qualities determine the choice of the females; but here again we
have some direct and indirect evidence that it is to a large extent the
external attractions of the male; though no doubt his vigour, courage, and
other mental qualities come into play. We will begin with the indirect
evidence.</p>
<h3>LENGTH OF COURTSHIP.</h3>
<p>The lengthened period during which both sexes of certain birds meet day after
day at an appointed place probably depends partly on the courtship being a
prolonged affair, and partly on reiteration in the act of pairing. Thus in
Germany and Scandinavia the balzen or leks of the black-cocks last from the
middle of March, all through April into May. As many as forty or fifty, or even
more birds congregate at the leks; and the same place is often frequented
during successive years. The lek of the capercailzie lasts from the end of
March to the middle or even end of May. In North America “the partridge
dances” of the Tetrao phasianellus “last for a month or
more.” Other kinds of grouse, both in North America and Eastern Siberia
(1. Nordman describes (‘Bull. Soc. Imp. des Nat. Moscou,’ 1861,
tom. xxxiv. p. 264) the balzen of Tetrao urogalloides in Amur Land. He
estimated the number of birds assembled at above a hundred, not counting the
females, which lie hid in the surrounding bushes. The noises uttered differ
from those of T. urogallus.), follow nearly the same habits. The fowlers
discover the hillocks where the ruffs congregate by the grass being trampled
bare, and this shews that the same spot is long frequented. The Indians of
Guiana are well acquainted with the cleared arenas, where they expect to find
the beautiful cocks of the Rock; and the natives of New Guinea know the trees
where from ten to twenty male birds of paradise in full plumage congregate. In
this latter case it is not expressly stated that the females meet on the same
trees, but the hunters, if not specially asked, would probably not mention
their presence, as their skins are valueless. Small parties of an African
weaver (Ploceus) congregate, during the breeding-season, and perform for hours
their graceful evolutions. Large numbers of the Solitary snipe (Scolopax major)
assemble during dusk in a morass; and the same place is frequented for the same
purpose during successive years; here they may be seen running about
“like so many large rats,” puffing out their feathers, flapping
their wings, and uttering the strangest cries. (2. With respect to the
assemblages of the above named grouse, see Brehm, ‘Thierleben,’ B.
iv. s. 350; also L. Lloyd, ‘Game Birds of Sweden,’ 1867, pp. 19,
78. Richardson, ‘Fauna Bor. Americana: Birds,’ p. 362. References
in regard to the assemblages of other birds have already been given. On
Paradisea, see Wallace, in ‘Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist.’ vol. xx.
1857, p. 412. On the snipe, Lloyd, ibid. p. 221.)</p>
<p>Some of the above birds,—the black-cock, capercailzie, pheasant-grouse,
ruff, solitary snipe, and perhaps others,—are, as is believed,
polygamists. With such birds it might have been thought that the stronger males
would simply have driven away the weaker, and then at once have taken
possession of as many females as possible; but if it be indispensable for the
male to excite or please the female, we can understand the length of the
courtship and the congregation of so many individuals of both sexes at the same
spot. Certain strictly monogamous species likewise hold nuptial assemblages;
this seems to be the case in Scandinavia with one of the ptarmigans, and their
leks last from the middle of March to the middle of May. In Australia the
lyre-bird (Menura superba) forms “small round hillocks,” and the M.
Alberti scratches for itself shallow holes, or, as they are called by the
natives, “corroborying places,” where it is believed both sexes
assemble. The meetings of the M. superba are sometimes very large; and an
account has lately been published (3. Quoted by Mr. T.W. Wood, in the
‘Student,’ April 1870, p. 125.) by a traveller, who heard in a
valley beneath him, thickly covered with scrub, “a din which completely
astonished” him; on crawling onwards he beheld, to his amazement, about
one hundred and fifty of the magnificent lyre-cocks, “ranged in order of
battle, and fighting with indescribable fury.” The bowers of the
Bower-birds are the resort of both sexes during the breeding-season; and
“here the males meet and contend with each other for the favours of the
female, and here the latter assemble and coquet with the males.” With two
of the genera, the same bower is resorted to during many years. (4. Gould,
‘Handbook to the Birds of Australia,’ vol. i. pp. 300, 308, 448,
451. On the ptarmigan, above alluded to, see Lloyd, ibid. p. 129.)</p>
<p>The common magpie (Corvus pica, Linn.), as I have been informed by the Rev. W.
Darwin Fox, used to assemble from all parts of Delamere Forest, in order to
celebrate the “great magpie marriage.” Some years ago these birds
abounded in extraordinary numbers, so that a gamekeeper killed in one morning
nineteen males, and another killed by a single shot seven birds at roost
together. They then had the habit of assembling very early in the spring at
particular spots, where they could be seen in flocks, chattering, sometimes
fighting, bustling and flying about the trees. The whole affair was evidently
considered by the birds as one of the highest importance. Shortly after the
meeting they all separated, and were then observed by Mr. Fox and others to be
paired for the season. In any district in which a species does not exist in
large numbers, great assemblages cannot, of course, be held, and the same
species may have different habits in different countries. For instance, I have
heard of only one instance, from Mr. Wedderburn, of a regular assemblage of
black game in Scotland, yet these assemblages are so well known in Germany and
Scandinavia that they have received special names.</p>
<h3>UNPAIRED BIRDS.</h3>
<p>From the facts now given, we may conclude that the courtship of birds belonging
to widely different groups, is often a prolonged, delicate, and troublesome
affair. There is even reason to suspect, improbable as this will at first
appear, that some males and females of the same species, inhabiting the same
district, do not always please each other, and consequently do not pair. Many
accounts have been published of either the male or female of a pair having been
shot, and quickly replaced by another. This has been observed more frequently
with the magpie than with any other bird, owing perhaps to its conspicuous
appearance and nest. The illustrious Jenner states that in Wiltshire one of a
pair was daily shot no less than seven times successively, “but all to no
purpose, for the remaining magpie soon found another mate”; and the last
pair reared their young. A new partner is generally found on the succeeding
day; but Mr. Thompson gives the case of one being replaced on the evening of
the same day. Even after the eggs are hatched, if one of the old birds is
destroyed a mate will often be found; this occurred after an interval of two
days, in a case recently observed by one of Sir J. Lubbock’s keepers. (5.
On magpies, Jenner, in ‘Philosophical Transactions,’ 1824, p. 21.
Macgillivray, ‘Hist. British Birds,’ vol. i. p. 570. Thompson, in
‘Annals and Magazine of Natural History,’ vol. viii. 1842, p. 494.)
The first and most obvious conjecture is that male magpies must be much more
numerous than females; and that in the above cases, as well as in many others
which could be given, the males alone had been killed. This apparently holds
good in some instances, for the gamekeepers in Delamere Forest assured Mr. Fox
that the magpies and carrion-crows which they formerly killed in succession in
large numbers near their nests, were all males; and they accounted for this
fact by the males being easily killed whilst bringing food to the sitting
females. Macgillivray, however, gives, on the authority of an excellent
observer, an instance of three magpies successively killed on the same nest,
which were all females; and another case of six magpies successively killed
whilst sitting on the same eggs, which renders it probable that most of them
were females; though, as I hear from Mr. Fox, the male will sit on the eggs
when the female is killed.</p>
<p>Sir J. Lubbock’s gamekeeper has repeatedly shot, but how often he could
not say, one of a pair of jays (Garrulus glandarius), and has never failed
shortly afterwards to find the survivor re-matched. Mr. Fox, Mr. F. Bond, and
others have shot one of a pair of carrion-crows (Corvus corone), but the nest
was soon again tenanted by a pair. These birds are rather common; but the
peregrine-falcon (Falco peregrinus) is rare, yet Mr. Thompson states that in
Ireland “if either an old male or female be killed in the breeding-season
(not an uncommon circumstance), another mate is found within a very few days,
so that the eyries, notwithstanding such casualties, are sure to turn out their
complement of young.” Mr. Jenner Weir has known the same thing with the
peregrine-falcons at Beachy Head. The same observer informs me that three
kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), all males, were killed one after the other whilst
attending the same nest; two of these were in mature plumage, but the third was
in the plumage of the previous year. Even with the rare golden eagle (Aquila
chrysaetos), Mr. Birkbeck was assured by a trustworthy gamekeeper in Scotland,
that if one is killed, another is soon found. So with the white owl (Strix
flammea), “the survivor readily found a mate, and the mischief went
on.”</p>
<p>White of Selborne, who gives the case of the owl, adds that he knew a man, who
from believing that partridges when paired were disturbed by the males
fighting, used to shoot them; and though he had widowed the same female several
times, she always soon found a fresh partner. This same naturalist ordered the
sparrows, which deprived the house-martins of their nests, to be shot; but the
one which was left, “be it cock or hen, presently procured a mate, and so
for several times following.” I could add analogous cases relating to the
chaffinch, nightingale, and redstart. With respect to the latter bird
(Phoenicura ruticilla), a writer expresses much surprise how the sitting female
could so soon have given effectual notice that she was a widow, for the species
was not common in the neighbourhood. Mr. Jenner Weir has mentioned to me a
nearly similar case; at Blackheath he never sees or hears the note of the wild
bullfinch, yet when one of his caged males has died, a wild one in the course
of a few days has generally come and perched near the widowed female, whose
call-note is not loud. I will give only one other fact, on the authority of
this same observer; one of a pair of starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) was shot in
the morning; by noon a new mate was found; this was again shot, but before
night the pair was complete; so that the disconsolate widow or widower was
thrice consoled during the same day. Mr. Engleheart also informs me that he
used during several years to shoot one of a pair of starlings which built in a
hole in a house at Blackheath; but the loss was always immediately repaired.
During one season he kept an account, and found that he had shot thirty-five
birds from the same nest; these consisted of both males and females, but in
what proportion he could not say: nevertheless, after all this destruction, a
brood was reared. (6. On the peregrine falcon, see Thompson, ‘Nat. Hist.
of Ireland: Birds,’ vol. i. 1849, p. 39. On owls, sparrows, and
partridges, see White, ‘Nat. Hist. of Selborne,’ edit. of 1825,
vol. i. p. 139. On the Phoenicura, see Loudon’s ‘Mag. of Nat.
Hist.’ vol. vii. 1834, p. 245. Brehm (‘Thierleben,’ B. iv. s.
991) also alludes to cases of birds thrice mated during the same day.)</p>
<p>These facts well deserve attention. How is it that there are birds enough ready
to replace immediately a lost mate of either sex? Magpies, jays, carrion-crows,
partridges, and some other birds, are always seen during the spring in pairs,
and never by themselves; and these offer at first sight the most perplexing
cases. But birds of the same sex, although of course not truly paired,
sometimes live in pairs or in small parties, as is known to be the case with
pigeons and partridges. Birds also sometimes live in triplets, as has been
observed with starlings, carrion-crows, parrots, and partridges. With
partridges two females have been known to live with one male, and two males
with one female. In all such cases it is probable that the union would be
easily broken; and one of the three would readily pair with a widow or widower.
The males of certain birds may occasionally be heard pouring forth their
love-song long after the proper time, shewing that they have either lost or
never gained a mate. Death from accident or disease of one of a pair would
leave the other free and single; and there is reason to believe that female
birds during the breeding-season are especially liable to premature death.
Again, birds which have had their nests destroyed, or barren pairs, or retarded
individuals, would easily be induced to desert their mates, and would probably
be glad to take what share they could of the pleasures and duties of rearing
offspring although not their own. (7. See White (‘Nat. Hist. of
Selborne,’ 1825, vol. i. p. 140) on the existence, early in the season,
of small coveys of male partridges, of which fact I have heard other instances.
See Jenner, on the retarded state of the generative organs in certain birds, in
‘Phil. Transact.’ 1824. In regard to birds living in triplets, I
owe to Mr. Jenner Weir the cases of the starlings and parrots, and to Mr. Fox,
of partridges; on carrion-crows, see the ‘Field,’ 1868, p. 415. On
various male birds singing after the proper period, see Rev. L. Jenyns,
‘Observations in Natural History,’ 1846, p. 87.) Such contingencies
as these probably explain most of the foregoing cases. (8. The following case
has been given (‘The Times,’ Aug. 6, 1868) by the Rev. F.O. Morris,
on the authority of the Hon. and Rev. O.W. Forester. “The gamekeeper here
found a hawk’s nest this year, with five young ones on it. He took four
and killed them, but left one with its wings clipped as a decoy to destroy the
old ones by. They were both shot next day, in the act of feeding the young one,
and the keeper thought it was done with. The next day he came again and found
two other charitable hawks, who had come with an adopted feeling to succour the
orphan. These two he killed, and then left the nest. On returning afterwards he
found two more charitable individuals on the same errand of mercy. One of these
he killed; the other he also shot, but could not find. No more came on the like
fruitless errand.”) Nevertheless, it is a strange fact that within the
same district, during the height of the breeding-season, there should be so
many males and females always ready to repair the loss of a mated bird. Why do
not such spare birds immediately pair together? Have we not some reason to
suspect, and the suspicion has occurred to Mr. Jenner Weir, that as the
courtship of birds appears to be in many cases prolonged and tedious, so it
occasionally happens that certain males and females do not succeed, during the
proper season, in exciting each other’s love, and consequently do not
pair? This suspicion will appear somewhat less improbable after we have seen
what strong antipathies and preferences female birds occasionally evince
towards particular males.</p>
<h3>MENTAL QUALITIES OF BIRDS, AND THEIR TASTE FOR THE BEAUTIFUL.</h3>
<p>Before we further discuss the question whether the females select the more
attractive males or accept the first whom they may encounter, it will be
advisable briefly to consider the mental powers of birds. Their reason is
generally, and perhaps justly, ranked as low; yet some facts could be given
leading to an opposite conclusion. (9. I am indebted to Prof. Newton for the
following passage from Mr. Adam’s ‘Travels of a Naturalist,’
1870, p. 278. Speaking of Japanese nut-hatches in confinement, he says:
“Instead of the more yielding fruit of the yew, which is the usual food
of the nut-hatch of Japan, at one time I substituted hard hazel-nuts. As the
bird was unable to crack them, he placed them one by one in his water-glass,
evidently with the notion that they would in time become softer—an
interesting proof of intelligence on the part of these birds.”) Low
powers of reasoning, however, are compatible, as we see with mankind, with
strong affections, acute perception, and a taste for the beautiful; and it is
with these latter qualities that we are here concerned. It has often been said
that parrots become so deeply attached to each other that when one dies the
other pines for a long time; but Mr. Jenner Weir thinks that with most birds
the strength of their affection has been much exaggerated. Nevertheless when
one of a pair in a state of nature has been shot, the survivor has been heard
for days afterwards uttering a plaintive call; and Mr. St. John gives various
facts proving the attachment of mated birds. (10. ‘A Tour in
Sutherlandshire,’ vol. i. 1849, p. 185. Dr. Buller says (‘Birds of
New Zealand,’ 1872, p. 56) that a male King Lory was killed; and the
female “fretted and moped, refused her food, and died of a broken
heart.”) Mr. Bennett relates (11. ‘Wanderings in New South
Wales,’ vol. ii. 1834, p. 62.) that in China after a drake of the
beautiful mandarin Teal had been stolen, the duck remained disconsolate, though
sedulously courted by another mandarin drake, who displayed before her all his
charms. After an interval of three weeks the stolen drake was recovered, and
instantly the pair recognised each other with extreme joy. On the other hand,
starlings, as we have seen, may be consoled thrice in the same day for the loss
of their mates. Pigeons have such excellent local memories, that they have been
known to return to their former homes after an interval of nine months, yet, as
I hear from Mr. Harrison Weir, if a pair which naturally would remain mated for
life be separated for a few weeks during the winter, and afterwards matched
with other birds, the two when brought together again, rarely, if ever,
recognise each other.</p>
<p>Birds sometimes exhibit benevolent feelings; they will feed the deserted young
ones even of distinct species, but this perhaps ought to be considered as a
mistaken instinct. They will feed, as shewn in an earlier part of this work,
adult birds of their own species which have become blind. Mr. Buxton gives a
curious account of a parrot which took care of a frost-bitten and crippled bird
of a distinct species, cleansed her feathers, and defended her from the attacks
of the other parrots which roamed freely about his garden. It is a still more
curious fact that these birds apparently evince some sympathy for the pleasures
of their fellows. When a pair of cockatoos made a nest in an acacia tree,
“it was ridiculous to see the extravagant interest taken in the matter by
the others of the same species.” These parrots, also, evinced unbounded
curiosity, and clearly had “the idea of property and possession.”
(12. ‘Acclimatization of Parrots,’ by C. Buxton, M.P.,
‘Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist.’ Nov. 1868, p. 381.) They have good
memories, for in the Zoological Gardens they have plainly recognised their
former masters after an interval of some months.</p>
<p>Birds possess acute powers of observation. Every mated bird, of course,
recognises its fellow. Audubon states that a certain number of mocking-thrushes
(Mimus polyglottus) remain all the year round in Louisiana, whilst others
migrate to the Eastern States; these latter, on their return, are instantly
recognised, and always attacked, by their southern brethren. Birds under
confinement distinguish different persons, as is proved by the strong and
permanent antipathy or affection which they shew, without any apparent cause,
towards certain individuals. I have heard of numerous instances with jays,
partridges, canaries, and especially bullfinches. Mr. Hussey has described in
how extraordinary a manner a tamed partridge recognised everybody: and its
likes and dislikes were very strong. This bird seemed “fond of gay
colours, and no new gown or cap could be put on without catching his
attention.” (13. The ‘Zoologist,’ 1847-48, p. 1602.) Mr.
Hewitt has described the habits of some ducks (recently descended from wild
birds), which, at the approach of a strange dog or cat, would rush headlong
into the water, and exhaust themselves in their attempts to escape; but they
knew Mr. Hewitt’s own dogs and cats so well that they would lie down and
bask in the sun close to them. They always moved away from a strange man, and
so they would from the lady who attended them if she made any great change in
her dress. Audubon relates that he reared and tamed a wild turkey which always
ran away from any strange dog; this bird escaped into the woods, and some days
afterwards Audubon saw, as he thought, a wild turkey, and made his dog chase
it; but, to his astonishment, the bird did not run away, and the dog, when he
came up, did not attack the bird, for they mutually recognised each other as
old friends. (14. Hewitt on wild ducks, ‘Journal of Horticulture,’
Jan. 13, 1863, p. 39. Audubon on the wild turkey, ‘Ornithological
Biography,’ vol. i. p. 14. On the mocking-thrush, ibid. vol. i. p. 110.)</p>
<p>Mr. Jenner Weir is convinced that birds pay particular attention to the colours
of other birds, sometimes out of jealousy, and sometimes as a sign of kinship.
Thus he turned a reed-bunting (Emberiza schoeniculus), which had acquired its
black head-dress, into his aviary, and the new-comer was not noticed by any
bird, except by a bullfinch, which is likewise black-headed. This bullfinch was
a very quiet bird, and had never before quarrelled with any of its comrades,
including another reed-bunting, which had not as yet become black-headed: but
the reed-bunting with a black head was so unmercifully treated that it had to
be removed. Spiza cyanea, during the breeding-season, is of a bright blue
colour; and though generally peaceable, it attacked S. ciris, which has only
the head blue, and completely scalped the unfortunate bird. Mr. Weir was also
obliged to turn out a robin, as it fiercely attacked all the birds in his
aviary with any red in their plumage, but no other kinds; it actually killed a
red-breasted crossbill, and nearly killed a goldfinch. On the other hand, he
has observed that some birds, when first introduced, fly towards the species
which resemble them most in colour, and settle by their sides.</p>
<p>As male birds display their fine plumage and other ornaments with so much care
before the females, it is obviously probable that these appreciate the beauty
of their suitors. It is, however, difficult to obtain direct evidence of their
capacity to appreciate beauty. When birds gaze at themselves in a looking-glass
(of which many instances have been recorded) we cannot feel sure that it is not
from jealousy of a supposed rival, though this is not the conclusion of some
observers. In other cases it is difficult to distinguish between mere curiosity
and admiration. It is perhaps the former feeling which, as stated by Lord
Lilford (15. The ‘Ibis,’ vol. ii. 1860, p. 344.), attracts the ruff
towards any bright object, so that, in the Ionian Islands, “it will dart
down to a bright-coloured handkerchief, regardless of repeated shots.”
The common lark is drawn down from the sky, and is caught in large numbers, by
a small mirror made to move and glitter in the sun. Is it admiration or
curiosity which leads the magpie, raven, and some other birds to steal and
secrete bright objects, such as silver articles or jewels?</p>
<p>Mr. Gould states that certain humming-birds decorate the outsides of their
nests “with the utmost taste; they instinctively fasten thereon beautiful
pieces of flat lichen, the larger pieces in the middle, and the smaller on the
part attached to the branch. Now and then a pretty feather is intertwined or
fastened to the outer sides, the stem being always so placed that the feather
stands out beyond the surface.” The best evidence, however, of a taste
for the beautiful is afforded by the three genera of Australian bower-birds
already mentioned. Their bowers (Fig. 46), where the sexes congregate and play
strange antics, are variously constructed, but what most concerns us is, that
they are decorated by the several species in a different manner. The Satin
bower-bird collects gaily-coloured articles, such as the blue tail-feathers of
parrakeets, bleached bones and shells, which it sticks between the twigs or
arranges at the entrance. Mr. Gould found in one bower a neatly-worked stone
tomahawk and a slip of blue cotton, evidently procured from a native
encampment. These objects are continually re-arranged, and carried about by the
birds whilst at play. The bower of the Spotted bower-bird “is beautifully
lined with tall grasses, so disposed that the heads nearly meet, and the
decorations are very profuse.” Round stones are used to keep the
grass-stems in their proper places, and to make divergent paths leading to the
bower. The stones and shells are often brought from a great distance. The
Regent bird, as described by Mr. Ramsay, ornaments its short bower with
bleached land-shells belonging to five or six species, and with “berries
of various colours, blue, red, and black, which give it when fresh a very
pretty appearance. Besides these there were several newly-picked leaves and
young shoots of a pinkish colour, the whole showing a decided taste for the
beautiful.” Well may Mr. Gould say that “these highly decorated
halls of assembly must be regarded as the most wonderful instances of
bird-architecture yet discovered;” and the taste, as we see, of the
several species certainly differs. (16. On the ornamented nests of
humming-birds, Gould, ‘Introduction to the Trochilidae,’ 1861, p.
19. On the bower-birds, Gould, ‘Handbook to the Birds of
Australia,’ 1865, vol. i. pp. 444-461. Ramsay, in the ‘Ibis,’
1867, p. 456.)</p>
<h3>PREFERENCE FOR A PARTICULAR MALES BY THE FEMALES.</h3>
<p>Having made these preliminary remarks on the discrimination and taste of birds,
I will give all the facts known to me which bear on the preference shewn by the
female for particular males. It is certain that distinct species of birds
occasionally pair in a state of nature and produce hybrids. Many instances
could be given: thus Macgillivray relates how a male blackbird and female
thrush “fell in love with each other,” and produced offspring. (17.
‘History of Brit. Birds,’ vol. ii. p. 92.) Several years ago
eighteen cases had been recorded of the occurrence in Great Britain of hybrids
between the black grouse and pheasant (18. ‘Zoologist,’ 1853-1854,
p. 3946.); but most of these cases may perhaps be accounted for by solitary
birds not finding one of their own species to pair with. With other birds, as
Mr. Jenner Weir has reason to believe, hybrids are sometimes the result of the
casual intercourse of birds building in close proximity. But these remarks do
not apply to the many recorded instances of tamed or domestic birds, belonging
to distinct species, which have become absolutely fascinated with each other,
although living with their own species. Thus Waterton (19. Waterton,
‘Essays on Nat. Hist.’ 2nd series, pp. 42 and 117. For the
following statements see on the wigeon, ‘Loudon’s Mag. of Nat.
Hist.’ vol. ix. p. 616; L. Lloyd, ‘Scandinavian Adventures,’
vol. i. 1854, p. 452. Dixon, ‘Ornamental and Domestic Poultry,’ p.
137; Hewitt, in ‘Journal of Horticulture,’ Jan. 13, 1863, p. 40;
Bechstein, ‘Stubenvögel,’ 1840, s. 230. Mr. J. Jenner Weir has
lately given me an analogous case with ducks of two species.) states that out
of a flock of twenty-three Canada geese, a female paired with a solitary
Bernicle gander, although so different in appearance and size; and they
produced hybrid offspring. A male wigeon (Mareca penelope), living with females
of the same species, has been known to pair with a pintail duck, Querquedula
acuta. Lloyd describes the remarkable attachment between a shield-drake
(Tadorna vulpanser) and a common duck. Many additional instances could be
given; and the Rev. E.S. Dixon remarks that “those who have kept many
different species of geese together well know what unaccountable attachments
they are frequently forming, and that they are quite as likely to pair and rear
young with individuals of a race (species) apparently the most alien to
themselves as with their own stock.”</p>
<p>The Rev. W.D. Fox informs me that he possessed at the same time a pair of
Chinese geese (Anser cygnoides), and a common gander with three geese. The two
lots kept quite separate, until the Chinese gander seduced one of the common
geese to live with him. Moreover, of the young birds hatched from the eggs of
the common geese, only four were pure, the other eighteen proving hybrids; so
that the Chinese gander seems to have had prepotent charms over the common
gander. I will give only one other case; Mr. Hewitt states that a wild duck,
reared in captivity, “after breeding a couple of seasons with her own
mallard, at once shook him off on my placing a male Pintail on the water. It
was evidently a case of love at first sight, for she swam about the new-comer
caressingly, though he appeared evidently alarmed and averse to her overtures
of affection. From that hour she forgot her old partner. Winter passed by, and
the next spring the pintail seemed to have become a convert to her
blandishments, for they nested and produced seven or eight young ones.”</p>
<p>What the charm may have been in these several cases, beyond mere novelty, we
cannot even conjecture. Colour, however, sometimes comes into play; for in
order to raise hybrids from the siskin (Fringilla spinus) and the canary, it is
much the best plan, according to Bechstein, to place birds of the same tint
together. Mr. Jenner Weir turned a female canary into his aviary, where there
were male linnets, goldfinches, siskins, greenfinches, chaffinches, and other
birds, in order to see which she would choose; but there never was any doubt,
and the greenfinch carried the day. They paired and produced hybrid offspring.</p>
<p>The fact of the female preferring to pair with one male rather than with
another of the same species is not so likely to excite attention, as when this
occurs, as we have just seen, between distinct species. The former cases can
best be observed with domesticated or confined birds; but these are often
pampered by high feeding, and sometimes have their instincts vitiated to an
extreme degree. Of this latter fact I could give sufficient proofs with
pigeons, and especially with fowls, but they cannot be here related. Vitiated
instincts may also account for some of the hybrid unions above mentioned; but
in many of these cases the birds were allowed to range freely over large ponds,
and there is no reason to suppose that they were unnaturally stimulated by high
feeding.</p>
<p>With respect to birds in a state of nature, the first and most obvious
supposition which will occur to every one is that the female at the proper
season accepts the first male whom she may encounter; but she has at least the
opportunity for exerting a choice, as she is almost invariably pursued by many
males. Audubon—and we must remember that he spent a long life in prowling
about the forests of the United States and observing the birds—does not
doubt that the female deliberately chooses her mate; thus, speaking of a
woodpecker, he says the hen is followed by half-a-dozen gay suitors, who
continue performing strange antics, “until a marked preference is shewn
for one.” The female of the red-winged starling (Agelaeus phoeniceus) is
likewise pursued by several males, “until, becoming fatigued, she
alights, receives their addresses, and soon makes a choice.” He describes
also how several male night-jars repeatedly plunge through the air with
astonishing rapidity, suddenly turning, and thus making a singular noise;
“but no sooner has the female made her choice than the other males are
driven away.” With one of the vultures (Cathartes aura) of the United
States, parties of eight, ten, or more males and females assemble on fallen
logs, “exhibiting the strongest desire to please mutually,” and
after many caresses, each male leads off his partner on the wing. Audubon
likewise carefully observed the wild flocks of Canada geese (Anser canadensis),
and gives a graphic description of their love-antics; he says that the birds
which had been previously mated “renewed their courtship as early as the
month of January, while the others would be contending or coquetting for hours
every day, until all seemed satisfied with the choice they had made, after
which, although they remained together, any person could easily perceive that
they were careful to keep in pairs. I have observed also that the older the
birds the shorter were the preliminaries of their courtship. The bachelors and
old maids whether in regret, or not caring to be disturbed by the bustle,
quietly moved aside and lay down at some distance from the rest.” (20.
Audubon, ‘Ornithological Biography,’ vol. i. pp. 191, 349; vol. ii.
pp. 42, 275; vol. iii. p. 2.) Many similar statements with respect to other
birds could be cited from this same observer.</p>
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />
1 of 2
2 of 2
Previous
Next
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.