THE HIGHER SOCIAL LEVELS 155 



pecking and the group is said to be organized 

 according to the "peck order." The ranking is 

 obtained by combat or by passive submission and 

 newcomers can escape the bottom ranks only by 

 fighting. 



The "peck order" within a given flock may be a 

 single series in which "A" pecks "B" which pecks 

 "C" which pecks "D" and so on to "Z" which is 

 pecked by all above. In other cases the order is 

 complex. "A" may have the "peck right" over 

 "B" and "B" over "C" and "C" over "D" which, 

 oddly enough may have the right over "A" 

 gained in some encounter when "A" was ill or 

 otherwise below par. A revolt or a fight may 

 upset or confirm the existing order. It is usual, 

 however, for birds inferior in the "peck order" to 

 fight less fiercely against those high above them 

 than they do against those of approximately their 

 own rank or lower. It is also generally true that a 

 hen that stands high in the "peck order" is less 

 likely to be vicious in her attacks on those below 

 her than is a hen standing relatively low in this 

 order. 



Hens with chicks are more likely to revolt 

 successfully against their positions in the flock 

 organization than are those without or the same 

 hen when her chicks are removed. A cock in- 

 troduced into the flock stands at the apex of the 



