The Descent of Man

owers of the Bower- birds are the resort of
both sexes during the breeding-season; and
"here the males meet and contend with each
other for the favours of the female, and here the
latter assemble and coquet with the males."
With two of the genera, the same bower is resorted
to during many years. (4. Gould, 'Handbook
to the Birds of Australia,' vol. i. pp. 300,
308, 448, 451. On the ptarmigan, above alluded
to, see Lloyd, ibid. p. 129.)
The common magpie (Corvus pica, Linn.), as I
have been informed by the Rev. W. Darwin
Fox, used to assemble from all parts of Delamere
Forest, in order to celebrate the "great magpie
marriage." Some years ago these birds
abounded in extraordinary numbers, so that a
gamekeeper killed in one morning nineteen
males, and another killed by a single shot seven
birds at roost together. They then had the habit
of assembling very early in the spring at particular
spots, where they could be seen in flocks,