80 BEHAVIOR OF PIGEONS. 



much of the day; but when the time for laying came, she was off, and is now on the perch 

 apparently for the night. 



Jan. 12. GF 1 has not laid yet. She works at the nest a good deal in the forenoon, 

 but less in the afternoon. She went to the nest a little before 4 p. m. but remained only a 

 few minutes, or half an hour at the most. She is on the perch to-night. 1 



Jan. 19. After 10 days there are no eggs. GF 1 has been busy of mornings more 

 or less every day, and to-day her wings droop, showing that she is about ready to lay. 



Jan. 20. At 4 h 30 m p. m., GF 1 went upon the nest, but came off at about 7. At 

 7 h 58 m she went on the nest again and remained on all night. 



Jan. 21. During the morning the female was on the nest as usual; she was found 

 on the nest also at 4 h 30 p. m., but there were no eggs. She came off within 5 minutes and 

 took her usual place on the perch. 



Jan. 22. The female has spent much of the forenoon on the nest; the male mean- 

 time has carried straws. About 3 h 30 m p. m. GF 1 went on the nest, but came off soon and 

 then went back again. At 7 h 15 m I found her on the nest, apparently for the night, but at 

 10 h 30 m she left the nest and took her usual place beside her mate. At midnight I found 

 her again on the nest. 



Jan. 23. GF 1 worked on the nest considerably during the morning. She went on 

 the nest about 2 h 30 m in the afternoon, but did not remain steadily, coming off now 

 and then for a few minutes. To-night she is on to remain, but as yet there is no egg. 



Jan. 24. To-day GF 1 acted, during all the morning, as if she had deserted the nest 

 she had made. She acted like a dove that, after rearing young, is looking for a place at a 

 distance for a new nest. She flew back and forth in a very uneasy manner, trying to get 

 out of the pen. Instead of going to her nest, she went into a box at the opposite side of the 

 pen, where there was no straw, and spent some time there with the male, but no straws 

 were brought to her. At 5 p.m., however, I find her on the nest, and apparently she will 

 remain on overnight, as she did last night. 



Jan. 25. During the morning GF 1 and her mate were building a nest in the box 

 opposite the one hitherto occupied. This evening she is back again on the old nest for the 

 night. On Jan. 26 she behaved again in the same way. On Jan. 27 she was on and off her 

 nest. She went on at 3 h 30 m p.m., came off at 4 h 25 m , returned at 4 h 26 m , came off at 4 h 45 m , 

 returned at 4 h 53 m , and remained on overnight. 



Jan. 30. The record for the 28th, 29th, and to-day has been about the same as 

 for the 27th, the female sitting every night on the nest. She takes the nest at about the 

 same time that she would if she were alternating with the male. 



Feb. 1. In the morning the female is driven about by the male and the latter is 

 uneasy and evidently is looking for a place for a new nest. He tries very hard to get out 

 of the pen and to interest the female, but she seems comparatively indifferent. In the after- 

 noon the female went on the nest early at about 3 p. m. She was on at 3 h 30 m when I 

 left and at 5 h 30 m when I returned; she is now on for the night. The case of (the previously 

 described pair) L 2, first cycle, seems to clear up that of GF 1 . GF 1 made a slip in not bringing 

 forth an egg, and has since continued sitting every night just as if she had laid. 



Feb. 4. GF 1 has gone on sitting every night. I have allowed her to remain on 

 just to see how long she will continue. Of Feb. 6 I note that she still takes the nest every 

 afternoon about 3 h 30 m to 4 and remains on overnight. This incubation without having 

 laid an egg has now continued since Jan. 20, i.e., for 18 days. She will probably sit a few 

 nights more. The close sitting normally lasts for about 21 days 2 weeks to hatch the eggs 

 and 1 week on the young. On Jan. 7, GF 1 went on to her nest at 4 h 30 m p.m., which is 

 later than usual. 



1 The records of this female (GF 1) are practically identical with those for L 2, described in the previous section. 

 Both of these females failed to lay their expected eggs on the same date, Jan. 9, 1897. EDITOR. 



