OTHER INSTINCTS. 143 



heads from him. There they stood in abject submission to the little bully. Twice I saw 

 a G. humeralis, after driving them to the corner, coo before them with a bowing and raising 

 of the wings and tail, in the manner so characteristic of the crested pigeon. In this case 

 it was a crow of superiority. 



I received by express in the same shipment, 4 specimens of G. humeralis and 2 of 

 L. picata. I was astonished to see that at the outset one of the little geopelia was actually 

 driving the large leucosarcia and catching hold of the neck-feathers and twitching them 

 with all its power. The white-faced pigeon stood and took it all without returning a blow, 

 merely raising one wing to shield itself. The geopelia quickly discovered that they could 

 bulldoze their larger cousins, and they had sense enough to take advantage of the stupid 

 impotence of their big companions. It is hard to define, but it is evident that Geopelia 

 has a higher grade of intelligence than the white-faced pigeon. It was ludicrous to see so 

 large a bird imposed upon by a mere pigmy. Courage in birds often means intelligence. 



In the struggle of two common-dove cocks for mastery of a roost or nesting-place we 

 see strong determination and an appreciation of any "advantage of position," such as the 

 inside position on a shelf. Any advantage of "hold" is maintained as long as possible and 

 made the most of, as when one gets the other by the feathers on the side of head and holds 

 him so that he can not return any blows. Once I saw a fantail take a homer by one of his 

 primaries and run him around a yard without once giving up the hold. 



I placed a young domestic, full-fledged, in a cage with a passenger. This fellow would 

 eat from my hand and would peck at the wild passenger when it came to eat with it. If 

 the wild pigeon went off his courage was of course good; but if the wild pigeon retaliated 

 he at once lost all courage to fight and would try to hold his place by lovingly fondling the 

 feathers of the head of the former. I saw this done several times, and I take it to indicate 

 almost human intelligence in dealing with opponents. 



A male domestic dove, which is mated to a female ring-dove, is wild and afraid to eat 

 from my hand. I pretend to be afraid of him, putting my hand slowly towards him, and 

 then withdrawing it as if in fear of him. He at once took courage and came to attack me. 

 As long as I kept up the play he was brave and seemed to think he had mastered. In the 

 course of a few days he became bold enough to fight vigorously. The dove is thus quick 

 to take advantage of fear in its antagonist, as is the case in so many of the higher animals. 

 I have a male blond ring-dove that is fearless and easily induced to fight, although ordi- 

 narily he treats me as a friend and never thinks of pecking at me even when I lift him from 

 his nest. 



Doves frequently make a show of courage just to intimidate. If they succeed in this 

 way they follow it up and practice it on every occasion. They remember that it works 

 well. This was well illustrated in my mourning-doves. The smallest of the flock of 10 

 found that a sudden jump was enough usually to frighten off his large companions, and in 

 this way he drove every bird in the pen. I have known a mourning-dove to frighten the 

 much larger ring-dove in this way, and so drive it about. Sometimes the wings are thrown 

 outward with a quick jerk, as if threatening to strike. Ectopistes does this when it scolds. 



If pecked at by old birds, the young squeal and beg with their wings. If abused they 

 hang their heads low and submit without an effort to defend. Often they will endure very 

 rough treatment without moving; often they will turn and run in search of a place of safety, 

 generally to the nest. If pursued and there is no escape, they will stand and be scalped 

 let the feathers be stripped from the head and back, flayed alive, but bearing it with the 

 heroism of religious martyrs. This endurance of severe pain without resistance or attempt 

 to flee is sometimes exhibited by adult pigeons; e.g., an adult geopelia, attacked by a fellow, 

 hung its head and stood motionless until the other tired of the attack. In a case where the 

 old birds wanted the nest for a new set of eggs they began to drive their young of 3^ weeks. 

 These, wonderful to say, bore it for a while, and then began to resist and fought with such 

 desperation that the old ones left them. I saw this repeated several times. (R 7, R 17.) 



