SUMMARY 255 



migration the bird is unpaired, when the 

 destination is reached it is probably in posses- 

 sion of a mate and is therefore quarrelsome. 

 Now, at the most, the interval can only be 

 a matter of a few days, and it is unlikely 

 that organic changes sufficient to bring about 

 so important an alteration of behaviour could 

 occur in so short a time, still less likely that 

 they could be timed to come into functional 

 activity just at the moment when the bird 

 reaches its breeding ground. And with regard 

 to the suggestion that the change can be 

 accounted for by the presence of a mate, we 

 shall do well to remember not only that males 

 as a rule precede the females by some days, but 

 that a male may even remain in its territory, 

 mateless, for some weeks, and yet display 

 hostility. 



Nevertheless the case of the migrant did not, 

 by itself, afford sufficient evidence upon which 

 to base any conclusion. We therefore inquired 

 into the behaviour of some of the residents at a 

 corresponding period. The Bunting served as 

 an illustration. Early in the season it estab- 

 lishes a territory, and because food is then 

 scarce it is forced to seek it elsewhere than on 

 the small plot of ground which it has acquired ; 

 and so it makes its way to some spot where 

 the supply is abundant, and there, meeting 

 with other species bent on a similar errand, 

 forms with them a flock. Part of its time is 

 then spent in the territory and part on the 

 feeding ground, and between these tw^o points a 



