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The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

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suspect, improbable as this will at first appear,<br />

that some males and females <strong>of</strong> the same species,<br />

inhabiting the same district, do not always<br />

please each other, and consequently do not<br />

pair. <strong>Man</strong>y accounts have been published <strong>of</strong><br />

either the male or female <strong>of</strong> a pair having been<br />

shot, and quickly replaced by another. This has<br />

been observed more frequently with the magpie<br />

than with any other bird, owing perhaps to<br />

its conspicuous appearance and nest. <strong>The</strong> illustrious<br />

Jenner states that in Wiltshire one <strong>of</strong> a<br />

pair was daily shot no less than seven times<br />

successively, "but all to no purpose, for the remaining<br />

magpie soon found another mate"; and<br />

the last pair reared their young. A new partner<br />

is generally found on the succeeding day; but<br />

Mr. Thompson gives the case <strong>of</strong> one being replaced<br />

on the evening <strong>of</strong> the same day. Even<br />

after the eggs are hatched, if one <strong>of</strong> the old<br />

birds is destroyed a mate will <strong>of</strong>ten be found;<br />

this occurred after an interval <strong>of</strong> two days, in a<br />

case recently observed by one <strong>of</strong> Sir J. Lub-

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