AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 185 



show me, but after a little watching I saw that the material came from the 

 leeward side of the largest tree-trunks, where there is always a dry strip. 

 Who would have thought that these little birds, which some people claim 

 cannot think, would have known where those dry lichens were to be 

 found? Surely instinct, which most people claim governs wild creatures, 

 does not lead in so small a detail. I believe that 1 never would have 

 noticed this dry strip on the leeward side of trees, if these birds had not 

 showed me. 



Walter E. Burnham, Mass. 



SPR.ING COUR.TSHIP. 



Although there is a vernal period of mating and love making, it does not 

 follow that these striving birds take a new mate each year. 1 am fully 

 satisfied that most birds are mated for life, at least this is more often the 

 case than is generally supposed. I believe that the demonstrations of valor 

 with which we are entertained are in nine cases out of ten simply a part of 

 the annual love making. As a matter of course the male robin, or other 

 bird will valiently defend his rights against all comers, and therefore when 

 interference occurs battles are sure to follow. In the case of the Bluebird, 

 the same demonstrations occur each season between well mated birds 

 which have been consorting for years, that are seen between birds just 

 mated. The valiant behavior of the birds of spring may be compared to 

 the periodical tilting matches of the knights of old. It not infrequently 

 happens that a male songster, after assurance of success in his suit, is sup- 

 planted by another of brighter color or sweeter song, or more likely, a 

 stronger bird. However in all communities there are some individuals 

 who have failed to secure a partner, and it is therefore an easy matter for 

 the rejected bird to form new attachments, the only disadvantage being 

 that nest building takes place a little later than the general run of nesters. 

 It is pleasing to note that differences never arise after the pair begins build- 

 ing the nest. Occasionally one of the birds is killed after the nesting has 

 fairly begun. When this happens to the female, the male gets a new mate 

 at once and if the nest is still incomplete it is sometimes finished and the 

 eggs laid. I have observed this act where the mother bird was killed, the 

 hawks being much attached to a nesting site and returning to it year after 

 year. Have also observed the act in the case of the robin. If the male is 

 removed before the emerging of the young, the mother bird goes away, 

 apparently out of the neighborhood. If there are young in the nest at the 

 time the male is killed the mother generally brings the nestlings through 

 successfully, but not always, if the young are small. I have always 



