Craig, Expressions of Eniofioii ui Pigeons. 43 



adversary; and also allows the flashing eye to produce its most power- 

 ful effect. For the bright red iris, during the charge, expands to a 

 niaxiniuni, reducing the black pupil to a pin-point ; and the eye, thus 

 transformed to a fiery red orb, is a focal point in the appearance of 

 the charging cock-bird. 



Having assumed this striking aspect, the dove charges at his utmost 

 speed upon the bird which has roused his passion, uttering at inter- 

 vals the long, loud kah-of-excitement. If confined within a cage and 

 thus separated from the bird which has excited him, he charges up 

 and down the cage, back and forth in all directions, now stopping 

 to stand and glare, for a few moments, at the other bird, now starting 

 again on his mad career. Though on all ordinary occasions the 

 dove's gait is a walk, during the charge he often progresses by long 

 leaps ; the leaping might be accounted for as being a necessity at the 

 great speed at which the bird charges, but the great bounds are useful 

 also in that this uncommon mode of locomotion contributes to the 

 expression of irresistible energy and reckless determination. 



The charge, as the reader may have gathered from what has already 

 been said, is an activity of the male bird especially. It is used in 

 attacking or driving away rivals or enemies. It is used also in 

 driving the female; sometimes, as an expression of jealousy, in driv- 

 ing the female away from other males ; but in other cases in driving 

 the female to no apparent purpose except to express the male's in- 

 herent quality of maleness and his mastery over the female. 



Though this behavior is rarely seen in the female, she may be 

 observed to charge in some cases, especially in either of the two fol- 

 lowing circumstances. First, when the safety of her nest and eggs 

 (or young) is jeopardized by the approach of strange birds; secondly, 

 when a female has been kept long in isolation, in which case her 

 behavior comes to resemble that of the male not only in this l)ut in 

 many other aspects (cf. p. 46). 



7. Parent's Call When Ready to Feed the Young. 

 Each species of pigeon has a call by which the parent signifies to 

 the young, his (or her) readiness to feed them. This call is always 

 more or less distinct from the other calls of the species. The signal 



