The Descent of Man

mate, and so for several times following." I
could add analogous cases relating to the chaffinch,
nightingale, and redstart. With respect to
the latter bird (Phoenicura ruticilla), a writer
expresses much surprise how the sitting female
could so soon have given effectual notice that
she was a widow, for the species was not common
in the neighbourhood. Mr. Jenner Weir
has mentioned to me a nearly similar case; at
Blackheath he never sees or hears the note of
the wild bullfinch, yet when one of his caged
males has died, a wild one in the course of a
few days has generally come and perched near
the widowed female, whose call-note is not
loud. I will give only one other fact, on the authority
of this same observer; one of a pair of
starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) was shot in the
morning; by noon a new mate was found; this
was again shot, but before night the pair was
complete; so that the disconsolate widow or
widower was thrice consoled during the same
day. Mr. Engleheart also informs me that he