140 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 23 7 part i 



the Strait of Florida, and curves up the west coast of that state to 

 swing westward toward Pensacola. The gap between the tips of 

 the horns basically is the area already mentioned. At the tips of 

 both horns the nonpareil migration almost peters out, most of the 

 birds having cut inland (northward) along the sweep of the horn's 

 curve into Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi on the west, and up 

 through Florida on the east. This leaves only stragglers to reach the 

 area of scarcity and, as a consequence, they are few in number and 

 considerably scattered. 



If there were a strong trans-Gulf migration of these birds directly 

 across that body of water, one could assume that large numbers of 

 nonpareils would make landfall in the United States at the nearest 

 point in a direct line from Yucatan. This point would be the area 

 about Mobile and Pensacola, which is the very heart of the section 

 where the bird is uncommon to rare. 



After the above was written much controversial comment about 

 Williams' theory developed among ornithologists. Most contem- 

 porary students of migration disagree with him, holding with that 

 foremost proponent of trans-gidf movement, George H. Lowery, Jr., 

 of Louisiana State University. It seems established today that 

 Williams' theory was too sweeping in its concept, but it remains 

 probable that some avian species are "shore-huggers" rather than 

 directly trans-gulf travelers. From the evidence at hand, I am 

 strongly inchned to put the nonpareil among these. 



Courtship.— This takes place as soon as the females arrive and is 

 an animated performance, frequently characterized by lethal battles 

 between the males, remarkable for their savagery. 



In his attentions to his prospective mate, the nonpareil carries 

 out most of tlie courtship procedure on the ground, where he flattens 

 himself out, spreads his wings and tail, and fluffs his plumage much 

 like a miniature turkey gobbler. The display actions are rather 

 jerky and stiff, with alternating periods of activity and stillness. 



Nesting. — The nonpareil is a bird of low growths, hedgerows, bushes, 

 and thick grassy areas, and is consistent in placing its nest at low 

 elevations. Usually it is in a bush or tangle of vines 3 to 6 feet 

 from the ground and occasionally built in a banner of Spanish moss 

 {Tillandsia usneoides). When this is the case, it may weU be as 

 much as 25 feet or more high. Such nests are, of course, invisible, 

 and only can be located by seeing the female fly to a particular clump. 



The nest itself is weU made, a deep cup woven and firmly attached 

 to the twigs or moss strands that support it. The materials are 

 largely grass, weed stalks, and leaves, often little more than skeletal 

 tracery in which the grassy cup is formed. The lining is either hair 

 or fine grass. 



