BIRD SONG— HAWKINS. 467 



her choice of a particular male. At Bakersfield, California, I spent 

 an hour watching' a male flicker sitting on a small limb a foot or 

 more above his mate, while both birds went through motions that 

 were interesting and at times almost ludicrous. The proud male 

 would extend his head in a line with his body, then turn both body 

 and neck first to one side and then the other, like a weather vane 

 hung on a central shaft, at the same time jerking his head back and 

 forth in a sort of kick-up motion, and pouring out all the time a 

 quick succession of notes which "might be represented by the words 

 " pick-up, pick-up, pick-up," closing the whole performance by a 

 right about face, when he would rest a minute and repeat the 

 process. His less gaily colored mate was not so vigorous in her 

 antics as her proud lord nor did she indulge in them so frequently 

 but it was evident that he was making his impression and she could 

 not refrain from expressing her feelings. I was certain that these 

 birds had mated their lives " for better, for worse." Hence the 

 love song could not have been for the purpose of mating, but to 

 furnish the necessary excitation to make productive the season that 

 was at hand for the reproduction of their race. There is no other 

 explanation that can be given for birds already mated, unless it be 

 that of the overflow of superabundant energy and this is too super- 

 ficial an explanation for the deep laid plans of mother nature. Were 

 this the only cause for the songs and antics of birds the mere overflow 

 of nature might never terminate in anything or it might lead to un- 

 regulated abuse. But nature protects and regulates her ways by 

 safety valves, of which the reluctance of the female is one, and this 

 must be overcome before the reproductive process can become 

 effective. 



This view seems to be strengthened by the fact that the display 

 of song and antics is used by polygamous birds and animals as well 

 as by those which mate for the season or for life. The rooster with 

 his harem about the barnyard is just as vigorous in his performances 

 as the bird which is devoted to his single mate. The doe in her 

 breeding time calls to the buck, who rushes to her side, then she, 

 "half in coyness, half in mischief, takes to flight at his eager ap- 

 proach, makes toward an open space, and runs in a circle. The buck 

 naturally follows, and the chase grows hot and exciting as a race 

 of horses on a track. To the frequent high calls of the fleeing doe 

 are added the deep, short cries of the panting buck; but suddenly 

 the roguish doe disappears like a nymph into the thicket near at 

 hand, and the baffled buck stands with head erect and ears thrown 

 forward; then we see his head lowered as he catches the scent, and 

 he, too, vanishes in the wood." But this deer is a polygamist and 

 his antics can not be for the purpose of mating. 



