The Descent of Man

wild flocks of Canada geese (Anser canadensis),
and gives a graphic description of their
love-antics; he says that the birds which had
been previously mated "renewed their courtship
as early as the month of January, while the
others would be contending or coquetting for
hours every day, until all seemed satisfied with
the choice they had made, after which, although
they remained together, any person
could easily perceive that they were careful to
keep in pairs. I have observed also that the older
the birds the shorter were the preliminaries
of their courtship. The bachelors and old maids
whether in regret, or not caring to be disturbed
by the bustle, quietly moved aside and lay
down at some distance from the rest." (20. Audubon,
'Ornithological Biography,' vol. i. pp.
191, 349; vol. ii. pp. 42, 275; vol. iii. p. 2.) Many
similar statements with respect to other birds
could be cited from this same observer.