140 BEHAVIOR OF PIGEONS. 



The observation, however, to be of real value should have been made by one more familiar with 

 tumblers than I am. Mrs. Metcalf confirms these estimates of distances." (Professor M. M.Metcalf, 

 Baltimore, Maryland, Jan. 12, 1900.) 



SOCIABILITY. 



Two pairs of crested pigeons, when resting during the day, are often seen sitting "in 

 close order" on the perch. When "roosting" at night they get as close as possible to one 

 another, and the two pairs brought up in separate pens until Oct. 1st have never shown 

 hostility to one another. The two older ones, as soon as they were attacked by the male of 

 a pair of ring-doves, began to retaliate and soon made themselves masters of the pen. 

 Their swiftness of motion and skill in striking terrific blows generally caused the male 

 ring-dove to retreat. But the ring first claimed the nest-boxes and yielded his position 

 there only occasionally, and then only for the moment. He too is no unskillful fighter. 

 Although inferior in striking, he is quick to take advantage by flying upon the back of his 

 antagonist, where he can scratch, peck, and strike with impunity. In this way he drives 

 the much larger and stronger Ectopistes, and often puts to rout even the crested pigeons. 

 The crested pigeons, while perfectly friendly to one another, regard the young Ectopistes 

 as enemies on the perch at night (not while eating) . This is due to the fact that the latter 

 insist on free roosting-space and peck at intruders that come within reach. The crested 

 pigeons therefore take care on their part not to let the passengers or the ring-doves come 

 too near their section of the perch. If these do not keep at a safe distance, at least 6 to 12 

 inches away, one of the crested pigeons will attack furiously and return to his place only 

 after having put the enemy at a longer distance than he would have claimed unmolested. 

 The point seems to be to make it understood that there can be no trespassing on roosting 

 quarters. 



Two young Ectopistes never sleep side by side. They always claim free space on both 

 sides 6 or more inches. The mourning-doves do the same. This is interesting in relation 

 to the fact that the passenger pigeons are well known to prefer company in nesting and in 

 feeding, keeping together in large flocks. Mourning-doves, on the other hand, seek a place 

 apart for a nest, and only later in feeding or migrating are found in flocks. 



The zebra-doves (certain geopelias) as well as the ground-doves of Florida (Chamcepelia) 

 sit in close order at night, often struggling to get the inside place as the warmest. The 

 same is true of Geopelia humeralis. 



I have seen for a week or two that the second of a young pair, of crested pigeons, 74 

 days old, insists on roosting with its foster parents (ring-doves). This pair of ring-doves 

 and two young passengers are all in the same pen in my library. The ring-doves are hostile 

 to the older crested pigeons and often so to the younger, mistaking them for enemies. But 

 these submit to being pecked rather roughly and snuggle down beside their foster-parents. 

 The first of the pair has now finally deserted its foster-parents and prefers to roost with 

 the older pair of its kind. The second young still insists on sitting beside its ring-dove 

 parents. 



A male crested pigeon mated with a ring-dove (GF 1) roosts on the nest-box close 

 beside his mate. For the first two nights he sat on one side of the box and she on one end. 

 To-night he took his place beside her, and so close that she several times withdrew to another 

 side. He followed her each time and insisted on sitting as close as possible. At last she 

 submitted and went to sleep beside him. Here we see the female cross her own instincts 

 of roosting apart. In the case of another pair, common-pigeon male and ring-dove female, 

 the female learned to follow the male into the cot every night, while other ring-doves 

 steadily preferred to sit outside. 



It is possible that the "home instinct" might be developed in ring-doves mated with 

 domestic doves and then allowed to go free. The male domestic would follow his mate 

 and lead her back to the cot. A female ring-dove mated with an archangel follows him 



