THE MATING PERIOD. 9 



Three days later (Aug. 19) the first egg was laid, but the male did not begin to assume 

 his duties of incubation until two days after the second egg was dropped. 



The female of a blond and white ring-dove pair was nearly ready to lay and was in- 

 clined to mate. The blond male was savage and would not tolerate her presence; I was 

 therefore forced to keep her in a small cage within his cage. On the following day he was 

 still intolerant, but began to yield a little; he went to the box and called. She at once 

 responded, went to him, tried to take the nest, and began cooing in her turn. The male 

 endured this for a time and then drove her off. He next went to the opposite nest-box 

 and repeated the same behavior with her. The white ring was patient and took all his 

 abuse, and by night the blond finally became reconciled to her and condescended to sit 

 beside her. (Excerpts from R 29, R 33, C 7/7, C 7/33, C 7/15.) 



That females may take the initiative in mating is also evident from the fact 

 that two females may mate and complete the cycle of nest-building, production 

 of eggs, and incubation. (See topic on Pairing of two females, Chapter III.) 



The completion of the cycle without the stimulus of a mate is illustrated by 

 the following references: "Indeed a young and rank hen (domestic pigeon) will 

 often lay, like a fowl, whether she be mated or not." 1 



A male hybrid (mourning-dove X ?) was paired with a California mourning-dove 

 which was supposed to be a female, but which turned out to be a male also. The hybrid 

 attempted courting during an entire month, but his advances were repelled. He then 

 began the course of incubation on the floor of the cage. I soon saw by his behavior, 

 i.e., his refusal to move and threatening to peck at me that he was actually engaged in 

 sitting, although he as yet had no mate and no eggs. This cock had never been mated, 

 and I was surprised to find him sitting with all earnestness, and that too on the floor, 

 instead of in the nest-box. He went on sitting in this way night and day for a week, when 

 I placed a couple of eggs in his nest-box and placed him upon them. He at once took 

 possession and continued his incubation faithfully night and day for a week, when I placed 

 the two birds in another pen outside of the house in the hope of securing a mating. 

 (Excerpts from C 7/48.) 



The lack of a proper synchronization of the two cycles of activities in a pair 

 of birds is illustrated by the following note. For a more detailed account, the reader 

 is referred to the record of pair X-W 1 in Chapter VII. The female W 1 had been 

 with another female and had started on her cycle. When paired later with the 

 male (X) she was nearly ready to lay. She at once made advances, but he was 

 intolerant and resisted. He first began sexual advances about the time the first 

 egg was dropped, and continued these for four or five days, while the female had 

 passed through her sexual period and was engaged in the work of incubation. 

 Only at the end of his sexual period did the male first take part in incubation; 

 this was three days late. 



This male (X) was evidently not in the spirit of sitting, and the presence of the egg 

 did not stimulate him to the act. The decisive stimulus for such an act is thus not 

 external but internal probably a feeling which comes over a male periodically, and which 

 he will manifest perhaps only if the external stimulus is also present. He has no impulse 

 to sit. He is ready for making a nest and to accept a mate, but he Fequres time to 



1 Fulton, op. cit., p. 35. 



