Year
Unknown
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.
| www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
way right towards the dung, and got a view
y pace at about 20 yds (dung was on the other
side of grass clump so only head was visible probably).
The F of the pair looked startled & her necks started
bobbing. The O stopped trying to display for a try
while, but started to lead her up the hill. The
female followed him up to listen could note
100 yds up the hill & there they fed & displayed
for awhile longer. Soon saw the O dash
from about a yard away, mount & tread on the
female who was obscured by a bunch of grass. He
made the usual strange movements of feathers, remained on top for all of a minute. When the F
arose I got the impression that the O went up
over her head but am not certain. Also got
an impression that there was a note at the
beginning of the copulation.
At this time could hear 2 sets of flapping
on flats about dung, but couldn't see either
bird. Probably was same O's seen before.
Watched the couple alone feet for a
while, then thought I saw the O display and the
female subsequently started chasing him. Heard a
soft, long version of their flying screech as the
male, headed down, tore through the grass. The female
chased him with her head held up. The male
would make a short dash, duck under some
glass, double back on his tracks, but the F always