The Descent of Man

tand the length of the courtship and the congregation
of so many individuals of both sexes
at the same spot. Certain strictly monogamous
species likewise hold nuptial assemblages; this
seems to be the case in Scandinavia with one of
the ptarmigans, and their leks last from the
middle of March to the middle of May. In Australia
the lyre-bird (Menura superba) forms
"small round hillocks," and the M. Alberti
scratches for itself shallow holes, or, as they are
called by the natives, "corroborying places,"
where it is believed both sexes assemble. The
meetings of the M. superba are sometimes very
large; and an account has lately been published
(3. Quoted by Mr. T.W. Wood, in the 'Student,'
April 1870, p. 125.) by a traveller, who heard in
a valley beneath him, thickly covered with
scrub, "a din which completely astonished"
him; on crawling onwards he beheld, to his
amazement, about one hundred and fifty of the
magnificent lyre-cocks, "ranged in order of battle,
and fighting with indescribable fury." The