CHAPTER I. 

 THE MATING PERIOD. 



The mating period refers to that part of the activities of the reproductive; 

 cycle which begins with courting and copulation and ends with the laying of the 

 first egg. It embraces such activities as courting, copulating, and the hunting, 

 acceptance, and construction of the nest. In the majority of cases its duration is 

 six or seven days. The quest for a nesting-place begins one or two days after the 

 initiation of the cycle and extends over a period of two to three days. The final 

 acceptance of the nest-site is indicated by the beginning of nest-building. The 

 construction of the nest continues for the rest of the period and may extend for 

 several days into the incubation period. Copulation occurs intermittently through- 

 out the entire mating period. These statements are based upon a very detailed 

 record of the bronze-wing pigeon, 1 which covers a number of cycles. Excerpts 

 from this record are herewith given in sufficient fullness to establish the above 

 conclusions. 2 



First Cycle Dec. 10, 1905. The male goes to the nest-box and calls. He attempts 

 copulation. On the 13th copulation was successful. It was attempted on the previous 

 days, but there was no certainty of its completion. On the 14th the nest was accepted 

 and there was some nest-building. The 15th and 16th were occupied with nest-building 

 and copulation, and the first egg was laid on the 16th. 



Second Cycle. On Jan. 1, 1906, the male was ready to begin a new cycle and kept 

 attempting to entice the female. The young bird died on the 7th. Courting and attempts 

 at copulation occurred on the 8th, and the first successful copulations were noted on the 

 9th. The quest for a nest was begun on the 10th, and this activity, interspersed with 

 copulations, continued until the 13th. Nest-building was noted on the 13th and the 14th. 

 The 15th and the 16th were occupied with nest-building in the forenoon and copulations 

 in the afternoon. The first egg was laid on the afternoon of the 16th. 



Third Cycle. On Jan. 23, both birds were courting, but there was no contact. On 

 the 25th they were interested in courting and copulation. Courting was continued with- 

 out contact on the next day, when the egg was deserted. The quest for a nest was begun 

 on the 27th, and the nest was accepted on the 30th. Nest-building began at once and 

 successful copulations were noted. No records were made for Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. Nest- 

 building was noted on the 2d, and the egg was laid on the day following. 



Fourth Cycle. Courting and attempted copulation by the male were begun on Feb. 

 21. The young died on the following morning, and the day was occupied by courting, 

 copulation, and hunting for a nest. The quest for a nest was continued throughout the 

 23d and 24th, and the final acceptance of the nest was noted on the 25th. Nest-building 

 was recorded on the 26th and the egg was laid on the 28th. 



1 The author remarked to one of his students (\V. ('.) that the bronze-wing pigeons (/'/i/w, Ori/iiha/ix). coming 

 from the Southern Hemisphere, at first bred in Chicago in winter, but that they gradually changed their cycles until 

 they bred in summer. EDITOR. 



2 In this volume the largest print represents the words of the editor. The author's material has been printed in 

 a medium-sized type. The small type has been used for the tables, notes, and other incidental matter. With this 

 typographical distinction the reader will be enabled to identify the manuscript material. 



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