Page:The British Warblers A History with Problems of Their Lives - 4 of 9.djvu/29

 to have been decided upon by the female, for she remained some considerable time in or about this place before the nest was commenced. It will also be noticed that she in no way helped to construct the first two nests, but only the third one; nevertheless, as I have previously mentioned, it sometimes happens that a nest built by the male prior to the arrival of the female is ultimately utilised for incubation.

The female is at all times less obtrusive than the male, and this is especially the case on her first arrival. Creeping about in the thickest part of the hedgerow, or low down amongst the undergrowth, she travels in one direction, momentarily appearing in the bare spaces, or on the outside of the hedge, but as rapidly disappearing, only to appear again a little further along as she flits to the opposite hedge. She never goes far distant, but keeps working her way back to her original starting-point. The male follows closely in her wake except during his fits of excitement, which are numerous and very intense. So intense does this excitement become that the bird seems almost to lose control of itself, and the actions consequently give one the impression of a creature demented. Such frenzied action, as a result of great excitement, is by no means uncommon in bird-life.

The attitudes assumed by birds during the period of sexual activity are as a rule very beautiful, but there are exceptions, and in some instances they can only be described as ludicrous. Such an one is the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio). When perched upon a branch beside the female, he raises his tail, lowers his body, bends his neck downwards, and his bill upwards in a comical, almost imploring, manner. The male Whitethroat is another instance, and his attitudes, especially when he precipitates himself on to the female, are somewhat difficult to describe. It would be doing him an injustice to say that they are wholly devoid of beauty; but they are at least peculiar, except during his aerial dance and his more sober moments when he is quietly following the female, and then they are full of beauty.