366 tJ. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 211 



"early in April" and nests as far north as Accomac County, with Hog 

 Island supporting the largest concentration of breeding in the Tide- 

 water area. "A few" he continues, "may be found as far north as 

 Cedar and Chincoteague Islands," and he concludes with the obser- 

 vation that the species is "extending northward each season." This 

 last has definitely proved true, and recent years have seen the boat- 

 tail nesting in Maryland and Delaware. Accurate arrival dates are 

 not available but Cottam and Uhler (1935) found it "obviously 

 nesting" at Sinepuxent Beach near Ocean City, Md., on May 22. 

 A definite breeding date for Delaware is illustrated by the discovery 

 on May 5, 1933, of a nest with eggs near Milford, by Herbert Buckalew 

 (1934). He states that the birds nested in the same area in 1934. 



Recent observations have shown the boat-tail now to be resident in 

 Virginia. J. J. Murray writes me that he would "sum up the present 

 status of the bird in Virginia as follows: common at Back Bay at all 

 seasons; fairly common on lower Eastern Shore (Northampton 

 County)." 



Courtship. — It would almost seem that the boat-tail is conscious 

 of his good looks, for few birds display such elaborate posturings and 

 grotesque antics before the female. Indeed, it is not necessary for the 

 male to have an audience of prospective consorts; often he is seen 

 performing with no female nearby. Spreading his wings and tail 

 in a wide vareity of poses, he bows, bobs, sidesteps, and jumps about 

 in a great flurry of excited movements. The undoubted beauty of his 

 glossy plumage, and the brilliantly metallic reflections of his feathers 

 appear to wonderful advantage under such circumstances. 



One particular posture, frequently indulged in, is highly charac- 

 teristic. It is accompanied by no movement whatever and is for 

 that reason perhaps even more striking. Often, in the midst of great 

 activity, the bird will become quite still, then raise its head high, 

 with the beak pointing straight up, neck stretched vertically, and 

 remain so in statuesque immobility for many seconds, sometimes 

 minutes. When several are performing in this way at a time, they 

 present a ludicrous appearance, the wings drooping slightly, the 

 huge tail rigid and every head pointed upward as if they were intent 

 on watching something hundreds of feet above in the sky. Then 

 suddenly, the pose is broken and they return to a vociferous and 

 active pursuit of other antics. 



Vocal accompaniment of practically all other poses is invariable, 

 and the din resulting when numbers are engaging in courtship is 

 astonishing. The ground, bushes, trees, and telephone poles are used 

 in these performances; where the bird is at the moment seems to make 

 little difference. 



As noted in connection with the Florida race (see p. 358), the male 



