94 DISPOSITION TO DEFEND THE TERRITORY 



feeding quietly in one corner of its territory 

 when an intruder enters. Becoming aware of 

 what is happening it ceases to search for food, 

 and approaching the intruder, at first swimming 

 slowly but gradually increasing its pace, it 

 finally rises and attacks with wings and beak, 

 and drives its rival back again beyond the 

 boundary. Thereupon its attitude undergoes 

 a remarkable change ; ceasing to attack, but 

 remaining standing for a few moments as if 

 still keeping guard, it betrays no further interest 

 in the bird with which a few seconds previously 

 it was fighting furiously. On one occasion I 

 watched a trespasser settle upon a conspicuous 

 clump of rushes situated near the boundary. 

 The owner, who was at the moment some 

 distance away, approached in the usual manner, 

 and, having driven off the trespasser, returned 

 immediately to the clump, where it remained 

 erect and motionless. 



A feature which marks all the fighting, and 

 which we cannot afford to disregard, is the 

 conative aspect of the behaviour of the owner of 

 the territory. The bird attacks with apparent 

 deliberation as if it were striving to attain some 

 definite end. I recollect an incident which was 

 interesting from this point of view. A pair of 

 Reed-Buntings were disturbed by a Weasel 

 which had approached their nest containing 

 young. Both birds betrayed symptoms of 

 excitement; as the Weasel threaded its way 

 amongst the rushes, so they fluttered from 

 clump to clump or clung to the stems, uttering 



