94 BEHAVIOR OF PIGEONS. 



As the period of consummation approaches, the composition of the activities 

 changes with the addition of new elements. Along with bowing, there is billing 

 and fondling of each other's head, hugging or necking, jumping over the female 

 without any attempt at mounting, opening the beak by the male, inserting of 

 female's beak in his, and often the shaking and rattling of the crop as if the male 

 fed the female. The female stoops with lowered head, the male mounts with a 

 jump, the female raises her wings as a support and lifts the tail, while the male 

 reaches back, moving the tail from side to side until contact is effected. The sub- 

 sequent actions vary with the species; some slip off at once, while others recover 

 the position and remain still a moment; and, in addition to this, the bronze-wings 

 lower the head and wings, give a series of seven rising notes, and jump off with 

 a wing-slap at the final note. After dismounting, some species lower the tail and 

 wings, raise and arch the neck, and strut around the female; others bristle up and 

 drive the female, and some raise the head with the beak pointing upwards. 



(2) The nesting activities are initiated two days after the beginning of the 

 cycle and thereafter the nesting and sexual impulses alternate in their dominance 

 of the bird's behavior. The onset of the impulse is manifested by uneasiness, rest- 

 lessness, indecision, and restrained flying movements which finally eventuate 

 into an overt search for a nesting site. In a second cycle some birds invariably 

 seek a new location, and this instinctive tendency is so strong that it persists in a 

 cage with no opportunity for adequate expression. So far as the records go, the 

 male appears to take the initiative in the search. Either bird may become satis- 

 fied with a site, while the other remains undecided for some time. The selection 

 is rendered evident by the bird's remaining near the chosen spot and giving the 

 nesting-call to^ the mate. The selection becomes certain with the initiation of 

 nest-building. The nest-building activities under the artificial conditions of close 

 confinement are exhibited in a rather rudimentary and spasmodic manner with 

 varying degrees of strength and completeness. 1 



Usually the female stays on the nest and works at its construction, while the 

 male carries the straw. One straw only is carried at a time, and in delivery the 

 male of some species mounts the back of the female and places it in front of her. 

 The female fashions the nest with certain movements of the legs, feet, and body. 

 The nest-building ceases for several days at the time of egg-laying, but is resumed 

 again with the initiation of incubation and extends throughout about half of that 

 period. During incubation either bird may carry straws to the one on the nest. 

 The nest-call is given frequently during these nesting activities and this probably 

 influences the activities of the other bird to some extent. The male's call, in bronze- 

 wings, consists of a single note, one second long, clear and hollow and like the 

 moan or groan of a cat. It is given at a varying rate and with a varying loudness and 



1 It is a general rule that the female remains in the nest and receives straws which are brought by the male. If, 

 however, the female while on the ground happens to notice a straw, she may seize it and carry it up. After laving, the 

 female not uncommonly brings straws to the male in the nest. If two males become mated, usually the stronger, 

 more masculine bird plays the part of male, while the other becomes docile and in all respects like a female. In such 

 cases the docile male will sit in the nest and receive straws brought by the other bird. (Conv. 9/?/07, W. C.) 



