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The Descent of Man

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widely different in closely-allied forms, though<br />

it is a very rare circumstance when such differences<br />

relate to the female sex. <strong>The</strong> young <strong>of</strong><br />

both sexes <strong>of</strong> R. bengalensis in their first plumage<br />

are said to resemble the mature male. (18.<br />

'<strong>The</strong> Indian Field,' Sept. 1858, p. 3.) <strong>The</strong>re is also<br />

reason to believe that the male undertakes the<br />

duty <strong>of</strong> incubation, for Mr. Swinhoe (19. 'Ibis,'<br />

1866, p. 298.) found the females before the close<br />

<strong>of</strong> the summer associated in flocks, as occurs<br />

with the females <strong>of</strong> the Turnix.<br />

<strong>The</strong> females <strong>of</strong> Phalaropus fulicarius and P.<br />

hyperboreus are larger, and in their summer<br />

plumage "more gaily attired than the males."<br />

But the difference in colour between the sexes<br />

is far from conspicuous. According to Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />

Steenstrup, the male alone <strong>of</strong> P. fulicarius undertakes<br />

the duty <strong>of</strong> incubation; this is likewise<br />

shewn by the state <strong>of</strong> his breast- feathers during<br />

the breeding-season. <strong>The</strong> female <strong>of</strong> the<br />

dotterel plover (Eudromias morinellus) is lar-

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