122 BEHAVIOR OF PIGEONS. 



voice modified from the Zenaida type of four similar, smooth, even syllables. 1 The first 

 two syllables in Zenaidura are together equal to the first in Zenaida and they are continuous. 

 I think, therefore, they should be counted as one from the point of view of their origin. 



A female Zenaida amabilis (?) seems to give a "nest-call" (heard twice so far) that 

 resembles the first syllable (a short initial note followed by a slurred rise in pitch) of the 

 perch-call or song of the male mourning-dove, although it is not so strong. The sound is 

 decidedly similar to that of the mourning-dove in quality and inflection. This bird is 

 higher then in voice and in white bar of wing than Z. vinaceo-rufa. (R 2.) 



VOICE AND BEHAVIOR OF THE WHITE- WINGED PIGEON (MELOPELIA LEUCOPTERA). 



A dozen of the white-wings were kept in the house during the winter. Matings began 

 about the first of January, but with no very serious efforts to nest. About the middle of 

 January 2 or 3 pairs were mated, and these pairs became pugnacious and savage towards 

 the others, almost killing one of them. I then removed from the pen all except 2 pairs; 

 these can probably remain in the same pen, as they have already claimed nest-boxes in 

 opposite corners of the pen. It is interesting to see ownership of nest-territory develop 

 and the disposition to drive away every intruder. The behavior is rather remarkable in 

 this species, as the bird makes demonstrations of its temper with voice, bristling feathers, 

 and especially by peculiar jerks of its tail. To its mate it turns with the utmost fondness 

 and gentleness, even while showing its spiteful scolding and threatening twitches of the 

 tail to an outsider. 



When another bird approaches, both sexes manifest then- displeasure by jerking the 

 tail up and down spreading it more or less and with spiteful quickness with each upward 

 toss. At the same time the bird "bristles up" so to speak, erecting especially the mid- 

 dorsal (interscapular) feathers, so as to give itself a larger and more formidable appearance. 

 It seems to be consciously striving to look as big and fierce as possible, in order to strike 

 terror into the transgressor. The warlike attitude, the fierce look, the erect feathers, the 

 vicious flashy jerks of the tail are reinforced by a spiteful "note of warning." This note 

 I am unable to describe satisfactorily. It is a querulous, fretful snarl, designed to warn off 

 the intruder. If the threat is not heeded, the bird follows it up with a jump toward the 

 offender a bluff to try its courage. If it retreats the bird dashes boldly after it ; if it stands 

 its ground the wings are raised and the birds approach and settle the matter by blows. 



When this warning-note or snarl is emitted the beak is slightly opened, so that one can 

 see between the mandibles. I am not sure that the note is to warn. If other birds are in 

 the neighborhood it is uttered frequently as the bird moves about. It may be merely an 

 expression of the fretful state of mind excited by the sight of an intruder. The note is 

 certainly an element in the behavior of the bird, and it fits well with all the other elements 

 which are plainly of a warning nature. The note may be of a similar nature to the note 

 of the Japanese turtle, which is given as the bird strikes at another with its beak. The 

 white-faced pigeon (Leucosarcia) raises its tail, lowers the head, and gives a peculiar sound 

 when it threatens to attack. The bleeding-heart pigeon (Phlogcenas) takes a similar attitude 

 and gives a similar warning noise before attacking, from which I conclude as to the 

 relationship of these genera. 



The "general call" or "coo" is often heard after dark in the early evening, as I learned 

 when these birds were in a large outdoor pen. Both sexes give this call, but the females 



1 The attitude of Zenaida in uttering this call is essentially the same as that of Zenaidura. The bird stands stiffly 

 still with the neck somewhat arched; there is no movement, except that with each coo the crop swells out greatly and 

 the feathers all round the neck are somewhat raised. The general behavior, the attitudes, and gestures of Zenaida 

 are much as in Zenaidura; for example, the habit of jerking the head, the "nod," consisting of a backward jerk of the 

 head followed by an upward jerk of the tail, with the tail coming slowly down again. (W. C.) 



