Page:The evolution of marriage and of the family ... (IA evolutionofmarri00letorich).pdf/31

 the anxiety of the combat, to run off with a younger male.

If we may believe certain authors, these amorous duels must not always be taken seriously. They are often nothing more than parades, tourneys, or courteous jousts, merely giving the males an opportunity of showing their beauty, address, or strength. This is the case, according to Blyth, with the Tetras umbellus. In the same way, the grouse of Florida (Tetras cuspido) are said to assemble at night to fight until the morning with measured grace, and then to separate, having first exchanged formal courtesies.

But among animals, as well as men, love has more than one string to his bow. It is especially so with birds, who are the most amorous of vertebrates. They use several æsthetic means of attracting the female, such as beauty of plumage and the art of showing it, and also sweetness of song. Strength seems often to be quite set aside, and the eye and ear are alone appealed to by the love-stricken males.

Every one has seen our pigeons and doves courteously salute their mates. Many male birds execute dances and courting parades before their females. Thus, for example, do the Tetras phasaniellus of North America, herons (Cathartes jota), vultures, etc. The male of the red-wing struts about before his female, sweeping the ground with his tail and acting the dandy. The crested duck raises his head gracefully, straightens his silky aigrette, or bows to his female, while his throat swells and he utters a sort of gutteral sound. The male chaffinch places himself in front of the female, that she may admire at her ease his red throat and blue head.

All this æsthetic display is quite intentional and pre-*meditated; for while many pheasants and gallinaceous birds parade before their females, two pheasants of dull colour, the Crossoptilon auritum and the ''Phasianus Wallichii'', refrain from doing so, being apparently conscious of their modest livery.