686 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 237 part 2 



numbers and scattering in different directions. They often, if not 

 always, ran a little way before they flew." 



Norris (1960) describes a hostile display "of a warning nature" as 

 foUows: "The most prominent features of this display consist of the 

 bird's facing its opponent, lowering and apparently "pulling in" its 

 head, opening its bill, and raising its wings. The intensity is variable. 

 Sometimes the bill is opened but little, and the wings raised slightly. 

 At other times the mouth gapes rather widely and the wings are raised 

 over the back. A warning display would normally last but two or 

 three seconds, but it might be repeated." 



Hailman (1958) describes a similar hostile display: "The aggressive 

 posture is the same for both species. The head is thrust forward 

 toward the opponent, and the bill is opened, displaying the gape. In 

 addition, the wings are raised in a quick upward jerk, and the tail may 

 be raised slightly, although the feathers are not spread. The threat 

 posture is frequently accompanied by a running chase by the dominant 

 individual, but rarely ends in flight of either. A note 'buzt' or 'buzt- 

 buzt-buzt' is sometimes uttered by the dominant individual and so is 

 assumed to be an aggressive note." He also states that supplanting 

 flights were infrequent and that the associated fear response "seems 

 to be relatively simple and unritualized, and consists of sleeking the 

 body feathers as in flight intention * * *." 



B-. A. Norris (1960) notes that in his seminatural experimental 

 group of Savannahs "The presence of a rather loose social hierarchy 

 soon became apparent; among the dominant individuals, certain males 

 belonging to dark races were especially weU represented." However, 

 it should be added that "many of the sparrows tended to feed and 

 associate peacefully, and it was not uncommon for two or more to 

 feed only inches apart, or for two to bathe at the same time." 



Little or nothing has been published on maintenance behavior, 

 therefore the foUowing brief note I made at Knob Lake, Labrador, in 

 1958, will have to suffice: "A male Savannah sparrow has been 

 singing and moving constantly along the edge of a large sphagnum bog. 

 At one stage of his 'patrol' he stopped in the top of a small tamarack 

 and proceeded to preen himself between songs. He first worked on 

 his breast, then his back and wings. He then dipped his bill into the 

 feathers of the rump (uropygial gland?) and worked on his legs and 

 feet. He would thrust his bill into his rump and then nibble down his 

 legs or toes, an action he repeated a number of times. He seemed to 

 pay particular attention to his toes. Although the sequential occur- 

 rence was not noted, he was seen to scratch his head a number of times 

 over the wing (indirectly)." 



So little has apparently been published on the courtship behavior 

 of the Savannah sparrow that the only account I can find is by 



