The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-04
ANIMAL COURTSHIP.
Love Making Among Birds-Accom-
plished Feathered lirts.
From the London Globe.

plished Feathered lirts.
From the London Globe.
In the latest addition to the International
Scientific series there are some ex remedy
amusing instances of animal love-making,
from which the most accomplished
human flirt might be content to
take lessons. After reading them we
are left wondering whether birds and
insects do not at times laugh up their
sleeve at proud man." and amuse them
selves by burlesquing mis- ways. Even his
eccentrlclties they copy. For instance, we
have leap year, when, for diversion, the
usual order of things is reversed, and the
lady may propose to the gentleman. But
with the capercailzie it is always leap year,
for the shy male, like young lady at
ballroom, sits on bough, and the females
crowd round eager to pay complimen and
atten ton. And there are several months
with which the same custom prevails.
There are some very curious differences,
however. Among human bipeds, despite
the dandies, exqulSites and Washers Of one
kind and another, 1t is the female who is
the most adorned. Sober black and white
does very well for gentleman in the gay
est ballroom; but it would be dull gather
ing, indeed, if delicious tints and shades
and colorings did not adorn the ladies.
Our feathered friends follow an exactly
opposite custom. The laureate has told us
how:
In the springa fuller crimson comes upon the
robins breast
In the spring the wanton lapwing gets himself
another crest;
In the spring "a hveler iris changes on the
FURNISHED dove
he mig have gone on to tell how gorget
and plume and crest come upon heron and
egret; how finch, how startling, and magpie
get new colors or brighter luster; how
even the dusky cOrmoraut has special orna-
ments for love-making. But it is ALWAYS
the male who is the dandy. Even IT he
wears his feathers all The year round, and
has no special wooing garb, he is the
dressy member of the family. Look at an
ordinary barnyard fowl, with his gorgeous
tall and sheeny wings, and cocks comb
t1aring and splendid; and then compare him
with the homely, dumpy, subfuse hens of
his own kind, or contrast the peacock with
the somber pea-hen, and you have an excel
lent type and example of the principles on
which courtship is managed among the
lower animals. Nearly always is the stock
bird counterpart in feathers of the lady
killing dandy; nearly always his
mate a sober-hued, stay-at-home, ordinary
looking fowl. IL is to be said in her favor.
however, that she has excellent taste Long
ago Mr.. Darwin found an aesthetic sonse IN
firms this view. In some instances this is
carried very far indeed. The Australian
bower bird has q boudoir of her own, with
green turf for carpet, whereon her lover
lays his presents of pretty flowers and fruit,
and even bright pebbles.
Among the human species one has MANY
opportunities Of noting the compromising
quality Of nature. How on earth does
Mir. b. manage to be such favorite, aud be
so ugly? ls common enough exclama-
ton But 1t is a frivolous question A male
beauty who Is nothing more is seldom ex-
tremeiy popular except with plain women,
who are drawn to him by the force of con-
trast. Ii, however, young man is past
redemption as far as his features are con-
cerned, you may be almost sure that he has
some other advantage. He has persuasive
tongue, or he sings well, or he dances di-
vlnely, or he Is humorist or he has the
knack OF dressing to advantage So it is
with the lower animals. With only very
few species is courtship merely a selection
of the most beautiful, as it seems to be with
the antler moth; the female of this species
sits motionleSS while the males buzz round
her for several minutes to display their
charms as soon as she makes a choice the
Others tiv OFF to another assembly. Among
many species the female seems to have
little or no choice, her rival lovers setting
their claims by ordeal OF battle. Even
IN these circumstances, however.
feminine art occasionally manages to
get its own way. Darwin tells of a hind
which, while two mighty stays we're striv-
ing for her favor, eloped through the thick
cts with weaAly true love, a PARIS OF