THE NEUTRAL GROUND 99 



is a solitary male, while on the neutral ground 

 a number of individuals of both sexes are 

 assembled, and move about freely one amongst 

 another. So that the scene presented to view 

 is somewhat as follows : a flat meadow, at one 

 end of which, and at fairly regular intervals, 

 a few solitary individuals are dotted about, each 

 one keeping at a distance from its neighbours ; 

 while at the other end a number of individuals 

 are collected together in a comparatively small 

 space, apparently deriving some satisfaction from 

 their close association. That surely is a very 

 remarkable contrast. But let us continue our 

 investigation, first fixing our attention upon the 

 solitary individuals ; one is standing preening its 

 feathers, another is squatting upon the ground, 

 a third runs a few yards in this direction then a 

 few yards in that, stimulated apparently by the 

 sight of food, and so on. Moreover, each one 

 keeps strictly to a well-defined area and makes 

 no attempt to associate with its fellows. One of 

 the males, however, whilst roaming backwards 

 and forwards approaches the limit of its territory, 

 and this brings the neighbouring bird, whose 

 boundary is threatened, rapidly to the spot. In 

 an upright position both stand face to face, and 

 the battle then begins ; with their wings they 

 attempt to beat one another about the body, 

 with their beaks they aim blows at the head, 

 and in the melee wings and legs seem to be 

 inextricably mixed ; whilst at intervals, driven 

 backwards by the force of the collision, they are 

 compelled to separate, only, however, to return to 



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