412 Craig, Emotion in the Passenger Pigeon. [bet. 



this same plate is less representative. Wilson's figure (the one 

 reproduced in Coues's 'Key'), though faulty in many particulars, 

 gives one a general impression of strong, massive body, strong 

 wings and shoulders, short legs and small head, all which is truly 

 characteristic. The figures in Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway (Vol. 

 Ill, p. 369) and in Audubon, as attempts to show the bearing and 

 mannerism of the species, are quite worthless. (A detailed criti- 

 cism of Audubon's plate is given on p. 42o.i 



Enmity. The male Ectopistes was a particularly quarrelsome 

 bird, ever ready to threaten or strike with his wings (though 

 perhaps not quite so ready with his beak), and to shout defiance 

 in his loud strident voice. With such a quick temper, such a grand 

 air, and such an unusual voice and method of attack, he generally 

 put to flight a pigeon of any other species at the first onslaught. 

 Nevertheless he was a coward at heart. In short, he was a splen- 

 did bluffer. 



This is true of all pigeons to a greater or less degree. Most 

 species of pigeon have two methods of fighting: the first, a hostile 

 display or ceremony; the second, actual physical combat. Cere- 

 monial fighting is the most frequent: the contestants make a great 

 show and a great noise, talking and cooing, bowing and strutting, 

 threatening with wings and beak, and generally deciding the 

 quarrel by these means, the less determined party giving in with- 

 out being hurt. When both sides are determined, however, they 

 pass from this ceremonial fighting into a fierce physical struggle, 

 in which there is no strutting, no ceremony, no crying out, but 

 only the flutter and thud of fighting, and an explosive clapping of 

 angry wings. The pigeon cannot kill his enemy at a blow, as the 

 cock can, for he has no special weapons and his beak is soft, but 

 he can worry his enemy grievously and in time perhaps worry him 

 to death. 



Now as to the Passenger Pigeon, he seemed, so far as I knew him, 

 to have but one method of fighting, which was intermediate between 

 the two described. He was an aggressive, violent threatener, but 

 not a real fighter. He would even flee from a Geotrygon, a bird 

 not half his size, as the following extract shows. 



"July 25, 1903. A male Passenger Pigeon alighted on ground, was 

 attacked by Geotrygon, chased for several jumps, and finally compelled 



