THE MATING PERIOD. 13 



On Jan. 31 the male is again driving the female. He seems quite excited, holds 

 his head high, the feathers of his forehead loosened so as to stand apart and out straight. 

 The female tries all the while to get out of the cage in the direction of the window. The 

 call described above certainly has three syllables, the second and third partially linked 

 together. 



On Feb. 2 the female has been sitting on the nest calling for straw and the male has 

 been at work. The female left the nest and came to eat when I put food in their cage. 

 The male at once became excited and began to drive her. He gave the cluck the short 

 petulant note described above, and followed it with the quicker rattling note as he charged 

 and pecked at her. She seemed to understand his displeasure and returned to the nest 

 without food. He then quieted and, after helping himself to the new food, returned to 

 carrying straw. This shows what the driving clucks, the charging, and the coos mean. 

 They mean, in this case, "go to the nest!" 



The following case of charging occurred during the incubation period of the second 

 cycle of the bronze-wing pair; it occurred about four hours after the second egg was laid. 

 It was not connected with the initiation of a new cycle, as this did not begin until 5 days 

 later. On Jan. 18 the male took his turn at nesting the egg; when he came off about 2 

 p. m., he charged at the female and even pecked her rather roughly twice. She soon went 

 to the nest. (R 28.) 



PERIODICITY OF THE DISPOSITION TO FIGHT. 



The disposition to fight comes on in all pigeons at the time of mating and choosing a 

 nesting-place. While fixing on a nesting-place, the male of a pair of homers (C. tabellaria) 

 was pugnacious, fighting off other males whenever they came near. The disposition to 

 fight and drive other doves away from the neighborhood of the nest becomes strong as 

 soon as nest-building begins, and it is still stronger when the eggs are laid and after hatching. 

 My young male passenger-pigeon (Ectopistes) while mated with a blond ring-dove bristled 

 up, raised his wings, and scolded fiercely at the crested pigeons in the adjoining pen as 

 soon as the first egg was laid. The wood-pigeons (C. palumbus) have been cooing and 

 courting for at least 2 weeks, and the male drives off the 3 or 4 others of his own species 

 from the nest. He seems to care little for the presence of birds of another species. A pair 

 of white-faced pigeons (Leucosarcia picata) became savage, during the nesting period, 

 towards the others of their own species, and I had to remove all of them; other species, 

 however, were left with this pair. (R4, Rll, Sh8/13.) 



In pigeons, as in many other birds, this disposition to resist enemies shows itself as 

 soon as a place for a nest is found. While showing a passionate fondness for each other, both 

 male and female become quarrelsome towards their neighbors. The white-winged pigeon 

 (Melopelia leucoptera) of the West Indies and the southern border of the United States 

 is one of the most interesting pigeons I have observed in this respect. At the approach 

 of an intruder the birds show their displeasure in both tone and behavior. The tail is 

 jerked up and down spitefully, the feathers of the back are raised, as a threatening dog 

 "bristles up" ; the neck is shortened by drawing the head somewhat below the level of the 

 raised feathers, and the whole figure and actions are as fierce as the bird can make them. 

 To the fierce look, the erect feathers, and the ill-tempered jerks of the tail there is added, 

 moreover, a decidedly spiteful note of warning. If these manifestations are not sufficient, 

 the birds jump toward the offender, and if that fails to cause retreat, the wings are raised 

 and the matter is settled by vigorous blows. 



The pugnacious mood is periodical, recurring with each reproductive cycle, and sub- 

 siding like a fever when its course is run. The birds behave as if from intelligent motive, 

 but every need is anticipated blindly, for the young pair, without experience, example, 

 or tradition, behave like the parents. 



