362 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1930 



the argument often ending in a grapple and fight as they whirled 

 downward. I quote from my journal records of illustrative observa- 

 tions : 



January 20, 7.55 a. m. Two females face each other, bills about 3 inches 

 apart and call alternately; crests erect. 



January 21, 9.44 a. m. Nos. 1 and 2, group 2, at same sites as yesterday. No. 

 2 assumes a downcast (listening) pose. No. 1 addresses her. Both now facing 

 each other only 8 inches apart ; a laughable performance, crests arising as 

 they speak. (This was continued until 10 a. m. when both picked at old 

 nesting material.) 



January 22. No. 1, perched above No. 2, who is on her site, calls frequently, 

 addressing No. 2 below, who, with her head bowed in the usual pose, eyes half- 

 closed, bill sometimes partly open, apparently listens intently to the notes No. 

 1 is practically pouring into her ear. A male alights on the limb above, and 

 shakes it so that Nos. 1 and 2 lose their balance. No. 1 falls on No. 2, they 

 grapple and whirl downward, but return at once and assume their former poses 

 and actions. 



January 24, 7.20 a. m. Nos. 1 and 2 still at it; the form of approach this 

 morning being the statement and counter statement. They never call together 

 but one follows the other and I can hear the husky gurgle of both. 



On this date the discussion closed, and although there had been 

 some attempt at nest building, it was not until January 25 that work 

 Avas definitely begun. It then appeared, as will be shown later, that 

 both these birds were inexperienced builders. Possibly they were 

 building their first nest and hence had been selecting their first site. 

 Several other couples in group 2, 1927, acted as did Nos. 1 and 2, but 

 in no other instance was the dispute so prolonged. This group was 

 not definitely organized and seemed to be composed largely of indi- 

 viduals who had not before been associated. 



NEST BUILDING 



When the nest building instincts are fully developed the birds work 

 regularly and persistently giving the greater part of each day to their 

 task. During the building season there is a variation of only about 

 five minutes in the time of the sunrise (6.35-6.40) and correspond- 

 ingly little variation in the birds' working hours. In January, with 

 clock-like regularity, one or more males call from the nest tree at 

 from 6.30 to 6.35 a. m. and 20 to 30 minutes later the females arrive 

 and begin their day's labors. For the succeeding four hours they are 

 steadily employed in gathering material and using it. They receive 

 no aid whatever from the male either in securing material or build- 

 ing. He, however, is almost constantly with them, both while they 

 collect building material and while in the nest tree, and his unremit- 

 ting attentions and frequently uttered calls may prove a source of 

 encouragement. 



Toward midday the birds usually retire to the forest and the nest 

 tree is deserted. In the early afternoon work is resumed and con- 



