The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-07-25
COURTSHIP AMONG BIRDS.
THE BILLING AND COOLING SEASON
IN THE FEATHERBD KINGDOM.
Grotcsque Wooing of the Crane
Aerial Lovcmaking of the Bus
tatd-Queer Nuptial Antics.

Grotcsque Wooing of the Crane
Aerial Lovcmaking of the Bus
tard-Queer Nuptial Antics.
Among d large class of animals the
wooing season is one OF merrymaking and
the performances are often in The highest
degree grotesque. In some of the tribes
Of South America, the suitor must prove
his right to acceptance by an exhibition
of his strength before his fair one. He
rushes to and fro, leaps high in the air,
comforts his face, then rolls at her feet
and awaits her decision.
Resembling this strange performance
is the cOurtship Of the common crane.
They may often be seen at the end of the
Florida peninsular dancing about, while
the brown female looks on in gtim amaze
ment. The crane is solemn bird and
has more than ordinary dignity and re-
pose, but at this time the males seem
possessed Of the frenzy of the deryish.
They leap into the air in short flights,
dance about, pecking at imaginary foes;
their necks seem twisted into impossible
shapes, their feathers arg ruiiled, and
with very dainty tread the wooer passes
before the silent female. 1t is said the
males pass in lines of pairs or fours, the
rivals seeming partners in some curious
dance, vieing with each other and be-
coming more and more excited until they
nearly fall from exhaustion. They rest
and go through the singular courtship
again and again until selection is made
by the female. These assemblies are not
always Pleasantly ended. When greatly
annoyed after securing his bride, the
successful suitor takes wing and flies
away, the clamorous throng following.
The lovemaking of the English bustard
is carried on entirely in the air, and is
said to be a rare sight, the grea: creature
giving wondrous exhibitions of his wing
power. The male whirls about above
the OBJ iect of his choice, assuming grand
attitudes of attack and defence, now re-
naming stationary and then rushing
down as if to destruction, but alightS
softly and gently murmurs its love in
bustard tongue.
The courtship Of some of the wood
peckers resembles that of an Eastern
nation, where the bird is pursued on
horseback by troop of lovers, the fleet
est horseman securing the prize. The
female woodpecker is constantly pursued
by troop of.suitors, striving one with
the other TO pay her attention, until she
selects one of the number, then very
frequently the happy pair combine forces
and attack the less favored ones and
put them to fight.
Similar to that of the woodpecker is
the wooing of the house martin. 1t is
conducted while on the wing. The
wooers, often numbering fifty or sixty,
hover about the object of their choice,
with loud, eXultant or angry cries, now
rising in the air above the female, whirl-
ing about her in great circles, until she
makes her choice, when the victorou
lover caresses her with his bill as though
making vows of eternal constancy.
Cur blue jay is garrulous fellow in
his wooing, and is evidently not I'M
mindful of personal attractions His
passionate notes are as varied as the po-
sitions he affects. At one time they are
sweet and low, and then loud as if in
eXpostulation; then again they seem
satirical and terminate in a vocal per-
formance which defes all description.
The ways of all the birds seem to be at
his command, and the low chattering of
his love-making often ends in loud
shrieks that have been compared by some
writers to the squeaking of an ungreased
wheelbarrow.
The humming birds are numbe red
among the quauelsomc lovers. They
perform extraordinary feats Of valor dur
ing their courtship, fearlessly attacking
large birds and driving them away.
Another bird that is equally pugna-
cious in its lovemaking is the common
ruff. Its contortions and dances at this
time are quite familiar TO sportsmen.
Every physical effort is made 10 attract
the attention of the female, who is near
at hand watching the contest of rival
suitors. The appeals of the males often
bring them into collision, and a fierce
battle is the result, frequently ending in
the death of one or both.
Many of the game birds have special
peculiarities while pressing their various
suits. 1t is said these peculiarites are
particularly noticeable in the pinnated
grouse, whose court hip occurs in the
month of March. The male is endowed
at this season with peculiar note or
signal, and the throat initiates or swells
as it is sounded. In still, clear mornings
it can be heard two or three miles, it is
so piercing This nuptial cry is peculiar
and yen,rlloGuistlc in its nature. Ii
does not appear very loud to by
stander, it rather seems to be far away
aad as it travels seems to gather power,
rush ng on, a wave Of sound, over the
hills and through the trees, startling the
birds, and re-enforced by their song,
dies away, a very echo of its former self.
-B0St0a Herald.