256 Huxley, Bird-watching and Biological Science. [july 



BIRD-WATCHING AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE. 

 Some Observations on the Study of Courtship in Birds. 



by julian s. huxley, b.a. 



{Concluded from p. 161.) 



Now let us consider a few practical suggestions. 



To begin with, the most valuable data are those secured through 

 continuous watching. Choose a single species of bird breeding in a 

 single locality, and resolve to get at the bottom of its life-history. 

 This will mean visiting the place at least two or three times a week, 

 (oftener if possible); make the visits as soon after sunrise as you 

 can, for it is then that almost all diurnal birds show their greatest 

 activity. If this is impracticable, then the middle of the morning 

 is the next best time, and the late afternoon next. The heat of the 

 day is usually poor. If you can be sure of the same pair time after 

 time, so much the better. Anyhow, be resolved at each visit to 

 follow out the behavior of individual pairs or birds for the longest 

 possible period. x\fter you have obtained a general rough idea of 

 the various actions performed by the species, you will find it in- 

 finitely better, if you wish to get at their real meaning and connec- 

 tion, to keep your attention on a single bird or pair (even if this 

 involves long spells of apparently useless watching, during periods 

 of rest or feeding), than to jump from one individual to another 

 whenever something exciting happens. This I can personally 

 testify to be of the greatest importance. 



Full notes should always be made, and should be made at the 

 moment, or as soon after as possible, if they are not to lose half 

 their value. Every week it is useful to go through your notes and 

 make a little summary to see what new points have been gained, 

 or on what you should especially concentrate during the week to 

 come. A big scribbling pad is better than any bound notebook, 

 as its use permits of the subsequent rearrangement of notes for 

 filing. 



Besides the one (or at most two) species you may choose for 



