Some Notes on the Psychology of Birds 129
opportunity for the vast resources of variation to be abundantly expressed. Groos. in his admirable "Spiele zlrr T/Jirrr." has given five separate classes under the head of courtship:
It Love plays among young animals Courtship by arts of movement.
Courtship by display of unusual or beautiful colors and forms Courtship by means of noises and tones.
5. Coquetry in the female.
1n the Zoological Park each spring. and indeed during almOst ever) month of the year, many examples of these courtships and plays can be observed The dances of Cranes and Eagles. the magnificent showing off of Pheasants and Ducks. the screams of Parrots and all the songs vibrant with sentiment, in which birds strive to outdo each other in the eyes of the female. show how greatly the spirit of emulation and recogni- tion of their respective accomplishments inspire the suitors. We should also realize how pronounced must be the discriminative power and aesthetic appreciation of the females. The display of the Peacock com- bines the clas5es of movement. color. and noise: for the beauty of its argus-eyed feathers is made more effective by their being raised in a halo above the bird, the shivering of its wing-quills forming a castanet accompaniment.
A genuine delight is taken in these various displays. So far from being intuitive or mechanical exercises. they are conscientiously practiced for weeks beforehand. and are kept up long after the period of courtship and nesting is overt For instance. in the Zoological Park. when a Peacock in early spring titnidly erects his plumes before an unappreciative Crow. it is for practice in anticipation of its later use in competition with his rivals. After the period of courtship. when he struts back and forth before a line of admiring people. the exercise is from pure delight and appreciation of his own beauties. The Germans. in their finely discriminating language. express the delicate shade of meaning in these acts by mrflbung and (m. bung. Even in birds which pair for life. I have noticed a conuetri and pretended courtship. spring after spring.
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One more interesting fact about courtship among birds-another indi- cation. perhaps. of their individualityiis that it is not always the most highly decorated suitor. nor the one victorious in combat. who wins the female for whom he is putting forth his utmost efforts. 1 have Seen a l’eahen show a very decided preference for. and ultimately pair off with. a young bird who had but small display. and was almost spurlesst An amusv ing instance also noticed in the park was that of some Mallard Ducks. Three drakes vietl with each other for the favor of a little brown duck. One of the drakes seemed to put but faint hope in his splutterings and bowings. and little wonder. for his tail feathers and the snowy ctlrl. one
