42 



HOMING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES OF BIRDS. 



closely for at least 6 days. There then ensues usually a period where, in most 

 cases, the birds begin to guard the egg less closely, leaving it entirely for long 

 stretches of tune, and on returning merely stand or sit near it. Complete 

 desertion finally occurs. Individuals differ greatly as regards time of deser- 

 tion, as may be seen by examining table 5, condensed from table 4. 



Table 4. — Behavior of 2Jf birds ivhose males had been sent to Galveston. 



A = absent. P = present. MR = Mate returned. Pa. = Present but not sitting on nest. 

 D = deserted. CAM = courted by another bird. 



Table 5. 



2 deserted at end of 19 days. 



3 deserted at end of 7 days. 



4 deserted at end of 19 days. 



6 did not desert during limits of observa- 



tion (27 days). 



7 deserted at end of 14 days. 

 13 deserted at end of 19 days. 



No. 15 deserted at end of 14 days. 

 16 deserted at end of 19 days. 

 19 did not desert during hmits of observa- 

 tion (27 days). 

 21 deserted at end of 14 days. 

 23 deserted at end of 11 days. 



