ODD MOTIONS 229 



then, again, returned, until the two stood fronting 

 one another, some two or three feet apart, continuing, 

 all the while, to swing and jerk — for it is a com- 

 bination of the two — their heads and bodies to this 

 side and that, as in every other instance. Thus 

 they continued, for some little time, neither increas- 

 ing nor decreasing the distance between them, after 

 which there were several half retreats, whereby the 

 one bird, passing the other obliquely, exposed itself 

 to a flank attack, its beak being turned away. This, 

 however, was never taken advantage of by the other, 

 and, finally, the more timid of the two made a low 

 flight over the grass, to some distance, thus declining 

 the combat. Some other odd motions and contor- 

 tions were exhibited by these birds, but they were 

 occasional, and, I think, unimportant, whereas the 

 main one was constant, and the keynote of all. In 

 this last instance, as at the first, both birds held 

 themselves upright, with their heads thrown up, 

 which gave them a half absurd, and wholly inde- 

 scribable appearance. 



We see, in these cases, a certain fighting action, 

 which can only be of use when the birds are at the 

 closest quarters — in actual contact, that is to say — 

 performed, either by both of them, when at a con- 

 siderable distance one from another, or by one only, 

 when the other is paying no attention to, or does 

 not even see him. How shall we define such an 

 action, performed in such a way ? To me it appears 

 to be a formal one — so much a necessity, that is to 

 say, under a certain mental stimulus, that its original 

 end and object is becoming merged in the satisfac- 

 tion felt by the bird in going through with it. It 



