The Descent of Man

ture death. Again, birds which have had their
nests destroyed, or barren pairs, or retarded
individuals, would easily be induced to desert
their mates, and would probably be glad to
take what share they could of the pleasures and
duties of rearing offspring although not their
own. (7. See White ('Nat. Hist. of Selborne,'
1825, vol. i. p. 140) on the existence, early in the
season, of small coveys of male partridges, of
which fact I have heard other instances. See
Jenner, on the retarded state of the generative
organs in certain birds, in 'Phil. Transact.' 1824.
In regard to birds living in triplets, I owe to Mr.
Jenner Weir the cases of the starlings and parrots,
and to Mr. Fox, of partridges; on carrioncrows,
see the 'Field,' 1868, p. 415. On various
male birds singing after the proper period, see
Rev. L. Jenyns, 'Observations in Natural History,'
1846, p. 87.) Such contingencies as these
probably explain most of the foregoing cases.
(8. The following case has been given ('The Times,'
Aug. 6, 1868) by the Rev. F.O. Morris, on