The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-20
Winning Mates in Bird Land.
Wonderful Feather DecOra-
ton. The WOOing Of Doves.
Manners Of Birds. Curious
Poses


about twenty feet. with every feather OF
body standing up. looking 10 irreverent
eyes Ike an animated bah OF feathers.
A certain plover seen by Mr.. Selous-
having only "a white breast and pair OF
bright orange-colored legs to pride himself
on. approaches his dulcinea with legs NOV
ing in rapid vibrations and head drawn up.
showing his snowy breast.
GOOD MANNERS.
When there is no striking beauty TO
display. manners come in. There are many
Instances Of department that would put
to shame the free and easy ways OF some
human lovers. Nothing can be more i'm
pressive than the manner OF the cedar wax
wing. who comes TO the chosen one with
body trembling. vibrating in unison with
his throbbing heart no doubt. Or the court
ly ways of another of the plovers. as de-
scribed by the observer just quoted. who
has made some valuable studies Of these
little known birds. 1t is fashionable. says
Mr.. .Selous, for lovers to walk demurely
side by side. almost touching one another.
and taking affected little steps quite I'M
like their ordinary way of getting about.
If another sutton appears. the accepted
one turns and makes a solemn bow TO his
partner. as if to say. excuse me a mo-
ment," then Strengthens up and faces the
intruder a different fellow. There is no soft
ness about him now. With head thrown
back and tail spread he meets the enemy.
prepared TO fight. II the unwelcome bird
r%etires, as he usually does, the lover re-
turns to his mistress. approaching in the
most formal way, with the high courteous
action of a knight of the olden time.
A little further on the pair indulge in a
curious pose, assumed with so much cere-
mony that one wonders if it have not some
peculiar signiacance-a marriage ceremony
for instance. Standing side by side, though
looking different ways. they stretch up
very tall on their stilt-like legs, then slow
ly and solemnly curve their necks. turning
the head downward with beak pointed 20
the ground, and whole attitude stin and
rigid. and stand thus for several minutes.
Sometimes in birdland the female takes
! part in the wooing, as i'm the case just mem
toned, but occasionally one is seen TO be
as shy as a bashful girl. and again she is
coquettish. leading her sutton on. The COM
mon cormorant or shag. another bird Of the
shore, is a droll fellow on all occasions.
even when he sits demurely on a rock. look
ing, as some one aptly says, like a long
necked black bottle. His love-making is
unique. First he displays his one beauty. a
brilliant orange lining TO his mouth.
stretching up his long neck and opening
wide his beak that the gorgeous effect may
duly impress. Then he sinks on his breast
to the ground, as if unable 10 stand in the
presence of his charmer. with widespread
tail turned over his back, and head turned
backward TO meet it. a most ludicrous fig
ure. Such devotion usually completes the
conquest, and the wooed one responds by
coming slowly up to her adorer and caress-
ing his throat with her bill.
Birds who depend on buffoonery and sym
nastics 10 win a mate, are too numerous to
speak of in this paper. AS examples OF
the savage styles OF wooing by r~oughness
and by fighting may be mentioned our
red-winged ~blackbird. who DULLES his mate
till / have no doubt she is relieved when
he leaves her-perhaps. indeed, she drives
him away-and the ruff who fights from
dawn 10 dark with apparent fury. but
hurting no one with all his clustering.
OLIVE THORNE MILLER