CHAPTER III. 

 THE PAIRING OF PIGEONS. 



Pigeons normally pair with the opposite sex of their own species, and these 

 matings are popularly supposed to represent a high degree of fidelity. Their 

 fidelity is, however, by no means absolute, and they may mate with individuals 

 of their own sex and with members of a different species. On occasion they may 

 attempt to gratify the sexual passion by other means. Descriptive of such anoma- 

 lous behavior, this chapter contains material bearing upon the question of species, 

 sex, and individual recognition, and the basis of species and individual preferences. 



INFLUENCE OF BEHAVIOR. 



That birds of the same species usually mate together is a matter of the commonest 

 observation. It is, however, a very interesting fact that among pigeons the sexes are not 

 able to distinguish their opposites by sight. The male, for example, does not know what 

 the female sex is; he will just as quickly mate with a male as with a female, provided the 

 opportunity is given. But these birds have a way of finding out the sex of their associates. 

 If, for example, two male ring-doves are put together and both are disposed to mate, they 

 will begin to pull each other's ears or feathers; each will shake the other, and by and by, 

 as this continues, one or the other will get a little angry. This display of temper is not 

 proper behavior for the female sex; it will be resented by the other bird and a fight will 

 result, in which one or the other eventually drives the other off. If a female is put with the 

 male the latter behaves in precisely the same manner as before. He first gives her a few 

 shakes and she becomes very submissive the proper behavior for the female. When the 

 female does not appear to resent or return the shakes, but walks away, the male follows her. 



It is very instructive to watch this behavior between two birds of different species. 

 As an example, let us take the situation presented by mating a common pigeon and a 

 ring-dove. The common pigeon is very much the larger; and if we try to mate a male 

 ring-dove with a female common pigeon the small male will approach this large female 

 very cautiously. If she is disposed to mate with him she will retreat; that gives him 

 courage, and he begins to coo. She dresses her feathers and struts and makes no resistance 

 to the domineering behavior of the male, and the mating is soon completed. If the female 

 is indifferent or averse to mating, she may give the male a peck if he comes too near, 

 and that usually puts an end to his efforts to mate; he becomes frightened and does not 

 pay her any further attentions. It is therefore necessary to know beforehand, if possible, 

 whether the birds are disposed to mate. If the female common pigeon is disposed to mate 

 before the birds are brought together the mating can be readily accomplished. 



In another cross-mating a male hybrid ring-dove was paired with a California 

 mourning-dove which was supposed to be a female. The hybrid was eager to attract 

 the mourning-dove, but the latter showed not the slightest interest in him. No progress 

 was made in 2 weeks, though the male hybrid persisted in courting. After 2 months they 

 became entirely friendly with each other. I then thought the match was to be a success, 

 but, to my surprise, a little later I saw the supposed female trying to mount the male. 

 It was soon learned that this supposed female was a male. I then placed this same 

 California mourning-dove with another male mourning-dove. The two began to coo 

 face to face; each offered the beak and tried to mount the other. Soon they returned 

 to striking each other, and otherwise making it evident that both were males. 



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