THE HOMING INSTINCT. 131 



but at once came out again, and soon flew down to the roof of the pens (2 feet below). 

 At 3 h 49 m she flew up to the top of the barn. A male homer of another pair was the only 

 dove out at the time. At 3 h 50 m , she flew down to the court, just as her mate was driving 

 the other homer off his stand. Her mate went to his nest at 3 h 55 m , the female having flown 

 to the stand above him. At 3 h 56 m she came down again on the roof of the pens. At 3 h 58 m 

 she flew to the highest stand on the "east side" of the barn. At 4 she again flew to the 

 roof of the barn, and in a moment came down to the court on the south side. At 4 h 01 she 

 was on the stand above her own. At 4 h ll m , she went to the rear shed, thence to her own 

 stand, and in at once. 



These birds have no memory of a home in Chicago, and their memory of their home in 

 Woods Hole does not suffice to send them flying at any distance. The nest is now a strong 

 attraction, and perhaps they are themselves more like highly domesticated pigeons, which 

 have less love for a particular home. 



(5) I allowed a pair of black barbs to go free at our former home, took them to Woods 

 Hole at the end of June, and brought the male and two young back to our new home in 

 October. The female died at Woods Hole. One young was black, the other was gray 

 with two black bars. The black one turned out to be a female, and she mated with her 

 sire. I placed the pair in a cot on the south side of the barn on Jan. 16, 1902. Three days 

 later I opened the cot at 10 h 30 m a.m. The birds had no eggs. The female came out on the 

 stand at 10 h 40 m . She looked shy, stretched her neck, but went back in a few moments, 

 the male remaining within. She came out again at 10 h 44 m , but went back after one or 

 two looks. Then the male came out at 10 h 44 m , but went back after one or two looks. 

 Then the male came out at 10 h 45 m , and was soon followed by the female. He went in at 

 10 h 46 m and immediately came out again and flew down to the roof of the rear pens at 

 10 h 47 m , and then to the roof of the barn, flapping his wings for exercise. He then came 

 down to the court and the female flew to him. At 10 h 48 m both were on the roof of the 

 barn, the female following the male; at 10 h 50 m both were on the court and walked to the 

 rear roof of the pens, the male leading. At 10 h 51 m he flew to his stand, and was followed 

 by the female after a moment. He went in, came out, then went in, and was followed this 

 time by the female. Both came out again at 10 h 54 m , the male flying down to the roof of 

 the pens, being followed by the female. 



Both seem contented, but the female, never before free, seems very timid, while the 

 male walks with assurance, but as if examining his new environment. At 10 h 57 m , both 

 flew to an adjoining barn, and came back to the north-side roof of my barn. The female 

 always hesitates to alight on a new place, stopping a moment or two before venturing to 

 touch her feet. At ll h 30 m they flew away, but soon came back to the barn, where they 

 sat for the remainder of the forenoon. I found them both on their own stand at 1 p.m. 

 and apparently fully contented. 



(6) A pair of homers was allowed their freedom at our former home during the years 

 1900 and 1901, and at Woods Hole during July and August 1901. The pair was returned 

 to our new home at the end of August 1901, and kept in an outside pen until Jan. 8, 1902. 

 Eggs were laid in a cot on Jan. 18 and 20. This was opened at 10 h 30 m a. m., on Jan. 22. 

 The male remained on the nest. The female came out again, and in course of an hour flew 

 from the barn to the house and back in company with the other birds. At ll h 30 m she is 

 on a stand on the east end of the barn and shows every sign of contentment. Evidently, 

 if birds have a nest with eggs and only one comes out at a time, there is little danger of their 

 going away. 



(7) Another pair of homers had been free, both at Woods Hole and at our former 

 Chicago home. They were placed in a cot in a barn at our new home on Jan. 19, 1902. 

 Eggs were laid on Feb. 3 and 5. The cot was opened at 3 h 15 m p. m. on Feb. 12, on the ninth 

 day of incubation. The male was on the nest and the female came out and flew around and 

 went back to the cot at 3 h 40 m p. m. The male then came out and twice got into the WTong 



