142 BEHAVIOR OF PIGEONS. 



young passenger bristled up, raised his wings, and scolded fiercely at the crested pigeons 

 in an adjoining pen as soon as the first egg was laid. 



The disposition to fight is periodic and comes on in all pigeons at the time of mating 

 and choosing a nesting-place. In a pair of homers, while fixing on a nesting-place, the 

 male was pugnacious, fighting off other males whenever they came near. Just as soon, 

 however, as the nest-place was settled and the two birds began to spend some time on the 

 nest every day and copulations became frequent about a week before laying the male 

 began to follow his mate jealously and closely, if other males were about. This male is now 

 so anxious to guard his mate that he will not in many cases stop to fight off a strange male 

 even from his own stand, but will keep his eye constantly on her, paying no heed to another 

 male, except to drive his mate out of reach of the latter. 



When a strange pigeon, e.g., a homer, approaches on the floor of the pen, the Nicobar 

 pigeon (Cal. nicobarica) raises its neck and back feathers, reaches forward with its head 

 with beak open, threatening to bite (not to peck). It opens the beak and "grunts" as it 

 "throws" its head towards the intruder with beak open. The head keeps moving as if 

 the bird was trying to reach the opponent, but the purpose served is to frighten off the other 

 bird. If the intruder comes quite near there will probably be no actual biting, but there 

 may be a retreat or a defense by striking with the wing. The grunt sounds much like that 

 of a pig that comes up to be fed or scratched. 



I saw two bleeding-heart pigeons (Phlogoenas luzonica) threatening each other while 

 taking their breakfast. The method was peculiar. The birds walked around each other 

 at a distance of about 1^ feet, each watching his opponent for an opportunity to get in a 

 blow. One would dart on top of the other and give a blow with the wing and a peck, and 

 then off, again walking around for another chance. 



My Florida ground-doves (Chamcepelia), which are very timid and frightened at the 

 least motion, have learned to trust me far enough to fly often upon my hand to get seed. 

 But in doing so they usually raise one or both wings almost vertically, evidently with the 

 design of protecting themselves from attacks or approach while eating. This practice of 

 raising the wings in a fight, or in the presence of an' antagonist, is widespread among 

 pigeons, as is attested by the several instances next to be described. 



The ring-doves, and pigeons generally, involuntarily raise the wings when suddenly 

 surprised by a strange animal or a bird brought into their presence. They not only raise 

 both wings, but nearly all the feathers of the body especially those of the back and 

 spread the tail, ready to defend themselves or to escape by flight. Common pigeons in 

 fighting often raise the wings to guard against the blows of their opponents. A ring-dove 

 learned to raise his wings and lower his head when a crested pigeon approached to strike 

 him. He finally learned that he could drive the crested pigeon by flying upon his back. 

 In this way the ring-dove claimed and held his nest-box, although at first he had to 

 surrender it. 



My bronze doves or green-wings (Chalcophaps) and my Geopelia humeralis both raise 

 the wings high when threatened by another dove. The bronze doves always raise both 

 wings as high as they can reach when attacked and during a fight. I have noticed too that 

 these birds, on getting a hold on the feathers of an antagonist, jump, helping themselves 

 with their wings and legs much as common fowls do. G. humeralis raises the wings in pre- 

 cisely the same way. This bird is decidedly courageous, a fact made evident by the 

 following paragraphs : 



My small G. humeralis do not hesitate to attack the large white-wing pigeon (Leuco- 

 sartia picata), and the latter allows itself to be driven about. It is like a pigmy driving a 

 giant. The white-faced pigeon appears to have no spirit for fighting and not wit enough to 

 defend itself against G. humeralis. Most doves are quick to understand that they can 

 whip doves of smaller size. But the G. humeralis continually lords it over the Leucosarcia. 

 One little fellow drove both of the large birds into a corner, where they tried to hide their 



