18.01.2013 Views

The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

the males are <strong>of</strong>ten kept by the natives for fighting,<br />

like game-cocks. As male birds are exposed<br />

by the English bird-catchers for a decoy<br />

near a trap, in order to catch other males by<br />

exciting their rivalry, so the females <strong>of</strong> this<br />

Turnix are employed in India. When thus exposed<br />

the females soon begin their "loud purring<br />

call, which can be heard a long way <strong>of</strong>f, and<br />

any females within ear-shot run rapidly to the<br />

spot, and commence fighting with the caged<br />

bird." In this way from twelve to twenty birds,<br />

all breeding females, may be caught in the<br />

course <strong>of</strong> a single day. <strong>The</strong> natives assert that<br />

the females after laying their eggs associate in<br />

flocks, and leave the males to sit on them. <strong>The</strong>re<br />

is no reason to doubt the truth <strong>of</strong> this assertion,<br />

which is supported by some observations made<br />

in China by Mr. Swinhoe. (15. Jerdon, 'Birds <strong>of</strong><br />

India,' vol. iii. p. 596. Mr. Swinhoe, in 'Ibis,'<br />

1865, p. 542; 1866, pp. 131, 405.) Mr. Blyth believes,<br />

that the young <strong>of</strong> both sexes resemble<br />

the adult male.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!