The Descent of Man

they may be seen running about "like so many
large rats," puffing out their feathers, flapping
their wings, and uttering the strangest cries. (2.
With respect to the assemblages of the above
named grouse, see Brehm, 'Thierleben,' B. iv. s.
350; also L. Lloyd, 'Game Birds of Sweden,'
1867, pp. 19, 78. Richardson, 'Fauna Bor. Americana:
Birds,' p. 362. References in regard to the
assemblages of other birds have already been
given. On Paradisea, see Wallace, in 'Annals
and Mag. of Nat. Hist.' vol. xx. 1857, p. 412. On
the snipe, Lloyd, ibid. p. 221.)
Some of the above birds,—the black-cock, capercailzie,
pheasant-grouse, ruff, solitary snipe,
and perhaps others,—are, as is believed, polygamists.
With such birds it might have been
thought that the stronger males would simply
have driven away the weaker, and then at once
have taken possession of as many females as
possible; but if it be indispensable for the male
to excite or please the female, we can unders-