HISTORICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF HOMING. 



53 



May 13: We reached the outer harbor of Mobile late last night and anchored. Started in 

 at 4 a. m. to-day. Waited until we were near land before releasing the birds. 

 At S*" 45™ we passed a long island of dredged sand about 5 miles out from Mobile. I 

 released the birds at this point. The morning was bright and warm. Svm about 20" 

 above the horizon. Light wind from east. Ship steaming due north. Land to east- 

 ward just visible. Sand bar 500 yards to west with land a couple of miles beyond. 



No. 1 released 5^ 45'°: Feathers in good condition but damp; was frightened and flew off 

 unprepared; alighted in water 100 yards from shore; arose instantly and flew on 

 towards land; was attacked by laughing guUs; arose and flew away in a direction a 

 little south of east, alighting and arising again frequently. 



No. 2 released at 5*' 55'° a. m.: Conditions the same. By this time No. 1 had disappeared. 

 Released No. 2 from port side with head towards land. Bird flew down from top of 

 deck house towards water, then swerved in a direction a little south of cast and flew 

 rapidly and smoothly about 6 feet above the water. 



No. 3 released immediately after No. 2: Conditions the same. It overtook No. 2 and both 

 disappeared, still flying and holding their eastern course. 



No. 4: Ran about on deck for a short time, stretching wings; then took flight to starboard 

 and took the same course as Nos. 2 and 3. 



No. 5: Drier and in better condition than the preceding birds. Ran about on deck for a 

 minute. Took flight to westward, but immediately swerved around to east. 



No. 6: Not in best condition. No. 5 did not fly until No. 6 was released and No. 6 attempted 

 to follow him immediately without preliminary wing stretching. It struck the rail and 

 fell to the deck, but recovered itself quickly and followed No. 5. 



No. 7: On release stood on the roof of the deck house for 5 minutes, until after No. 9 took 

 flight. Was dry and in good condition. Took flight from starboard to eastward 

 with No. 10. 



No. S: Good condition. Took flight from port side, swerving around to east. 



No. 9: In very poor condition. Damp and weak. Started to the westward, then flew to 

 land. Made several false starts to eastward, returning to land. Was perched on a 

 rock when I last saw it. 



No. 10: In fair condition, but damp and frayed. Started west, but swerved around to east. 



No. 11: In the same condition as preceding bird. Went off with it and was joined by No. 7. 



No. 12: Dry and in good condition; turned eastward immediately. 



None of the birds rose above the top of the deck house before taking flight. The 

 direction finally taken by all was the same, although they were released in three groups 

 which were, I beUeve, not visible to one another. No. 1 was the only one which went 

 into the water, and this was due to some extent to the attack of the gulls. None of the 

 others was attacked. After the preUminary movements they all flew low, not over 

 3 to 6 feet above the water. All were flying strongly when last seen. 



Table 17 shows the number of minnows eaten during the Mobile trip. 

 Table 17. — Number of minnows ealen on trip to Mobile. 



