ANIMAL BEHAVIOR. 317 



its momentum, and often gives up the chase on the first faikire. 

 In one case I saw the chase renewed three times, and eluded 

 with success each time. The pigeon was a white dovecot 

 pigeon with a trace of fantail blood. I saw this same pigeon 

 repeatedly pursued by a swift hawk during one winter, and 

 invariably escaping in the same way. I have seen the same per- 

 formance in other dovecot pigeons under similar circumstances. 



But this is not all. It is well known that dovecot pigeons 

 delight in quite extended daily flights, circling about their home. 

 I once raised two pairs of these birds by hand, in a place sev- 

 eral miles from any other pigeons. Soon after they were able 

 to fly about they began these flights, usually in the morning. 

 I frequently saw one or more of the flock, while in the m.iddle 

 of a high flight, and sweeping along swiftly, suddenly plunge 

 downwards, often zigzagging with a quick, helter-skelter flirting 

 of the wings. The behavior often looked like play, and prob- 

 ably it was that in most cases. I incline to think, however, 

 that it was sometimes prompted by some degree of alarm. In 

 such flights the birds would frequently get separated, and one 

 thus falling behind would hasten its flight to the utmost speed 

 in order to overtake its companions. Under such circumstances 

 the stray bird coming from the rear might be mistaken for the 

 moment for a hawk in pursuit, and one or more of the birds 

 about to be overtaken be thus induced to resort to this method 

 of throwing themselves out of reach of danger. 



The same act is often performed at the very start, as the 

 pigeon leaves its stand. The movement is so quick and crazy 

 in its aimlessness that the bird often seems to be in danger of 

 dashing against the ground, but it always clears every object. 



As this act is performed by young and old alike, and by 

 young that have never learned it by example, it must be 

 regarded as instinctive, and I venture to suggest that it prob- 

 ably represents the foundation of the more highly developed 

 tumbling instinct. 



The behavior of the Abyssinian pigeon, which, when " fired 

 at, plunges downwards so as to almost touch the sportsman, 

 and then mounts to an immoderate height," may well be due 

 to the same instinct. The noise of the gun, even if the bird 



