58 U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 211 



and intensive singing. G. B. Saunders (MS., see p. 56) describes a 

 performance he observed from a blind on April 16, 1931: "Today 

 instead of witnessing the usual routine I observed the first resident 

 female seen since the preceding fall serve as the center of attraction 

 for three competing males. As I reached the blind all four birds took 

 wing and began a most exciting and spectacular chase in which they 

 zig-zagged back and forth, describing circles 200 yards in diameter 

 and maintaining for the most part a steady flight, but occasionally 

 sailing on set wings or giving pulsating strokes. Throughout most of 

 the exhibition the female was pursued by all the males, but now and 

 then two of the latter would engage in a private chase after each other 

 (rarely striking in midair) only to return quickly to the magnetic 

 female. Finally all four came down to the spot from which they had 

 flown. The female began walking about, feeding in the short grass; 

 occasionally she paused to give a conversational chatter that impressed 

 me as being softer, finer, and more modulated than the alarm chatter. 

 The males vied in following her, first one then another arching his body, 

 pointing his bill up, and flying jerkily toward her at an elevation of 

 from 3 to 6 feet. At times they would walk near her with quick, short 

 steps, their bodies held vertically, bills pointed to the zenith, wings 

 twitching so rapidly that the remiges (particularly the tertiaries) 

 described a blurred arc above their backs, and tails convulsively spread- 

 ing and flashing the white areas. Then they would spring into the 

 air, fanning their wings powerfully but jerkily for six or eight strokes. 

 This 'jump flight' apparently serves two purposes, that of displaying 

 to the female, and of observing and intimidating other males. 



"In this way the four birds proceeded for some 50 yards, the female 

 for the most part apparently uninterested but occasionally pointing 

 her bill, twitching her wings and tail, and revealing her excitement. 

 The males at such times would attempt to intimidate each other with 

 violent displays. The female would chatter her approval. After sev- 

 eral minutes all four birds flew out of sight, but very soon one male 

 returned followed by the female. Now and then a new note which 

 sounded like the beert of the nighthawk was given. She resumed her 

 feeding, while he continued to post himself nearby. Instead of making 

 himself tall and slim however, he fluffed out his body feathers until the 

 yellow breast he presented to her gaze was a broad, flat golden shield 

 set with a shining black gorget. He continued to make advances, 

 pointed his bill upward now and then, flirted his wings, etc. She 

 chattered or gave the weet, weet, weet call in answer to almost every 

 song. It is noteworthy that while he alone was displaying, he did not 

 sing. Then, resuming his perch at headquarters, he sang brilliantly 

 for 19 minutes, averaging 11 songs per minute. During the next 4 

 days he continued to spend much of his time near her, frequently dis- 



