necks out in token of their admiration and their desire of a
favorable response. But the most interesting display is when all
the drakes simultaneously stand up in the water and rapidly pass
their bills down their breasts, uttering at the same time a low
single note somewhat like the first half of the call that teal
and pintail make when 'showing off.' At other times the
love-making of the drake seems to be rather passive than active.
While graciously allowing himself to be courted, he holds his
head high with conscious pride, and accepts as a matter of course
any attention that may be paid to him. A proud bird is he when
three or four ducks come swimming along beside and around him,
uttering a curious guttural note, and at the same time dipping
their bills in quick succession to right and left. He knows what
that means, and carries himself with even greater dignity than
before. In the end, however, he must give in. As a last appeal,
one of his lady lovers may coyly lower herself in the water till
only the top of her back, head, and neck is seen, and so
fascinating an advance as this no drake of any sensibility can
withstand."

The courting of the Argus pheasant, noted for the extreme beauty
of the male's plumage, was observed by H.O. Forbes in Sumatra. It
is the habit of this bird to make "a large circus, some ten or
twelve feet in diameter, in the forest, which it clears of every
leaf and twig and branch, till the ground is perfectly swept and
garnished. On the margin of this circus there is invariably a
projecting branch or high-arched root, at a few feet elevation
above the ground, on which the female bird takes its place, while
in the ring the male--the male birds alone possess great
decoration--shows off all its magnificence for the gratification
and pleasure of his consort and to exalt himself in her eyes."
(H.O. Forbes, _A. Naturalist's Wanderings_, 1885, p. 131.)

"All ostriches, adults as well as chicks, have a strange habit
known as 'waltzing.' After running for a few hundred yards they
will also stop, and, with raised wings, spin around rapidly for
some time after until quite giddy, when a broken leg occasionally
occurs.... Vicious cocks 'roll' when challenging to fight or when
wooing the hen. The cock will suddenly bump down on to his knees
(the ankle-joint),