HABIT, INSTINCT, AND INTELLIGENCE. 155 



the dove left her eggs, went to the perch, and was at once solicited to act as a male, which 

 she did. There can be no question that this extraordinary conduct meant the fullest 

 recognition on the part of both doves and a memory of their former relations. 20 days 

 later I brought the same female (D 2) from the coop behind the house to her sister (D 1) 

 in the house. D 2 seemed to behave as if she still remembered the place and recognized 

 her sister mate, but the latter gave no certain indication of recognition. She soon flew at 

 D 3 and treated her as an intruder to be driven off as speedily as possible. 



Two wild mourning-doves (Zcnaidura) were captured when 14 to 16 days old. The 

 smaller of the two was placed under the female of pair (G) of ring-doves, whose young were 

 1 week old. Here it passed the night. This bird was about the size of the ring-dove young, 

 but was more feathered and much darker in plumage. When the old birds attempte< I t < > 

 feed their young the next day they viewed the new-comer with suspicion and alarm, while 

 it exhibited fear of them. It was then placed with another pair (C) of ring-doves, whose 

 young were but 2 days old. At the time of feeding I placed this young in position to feed 

 and the mother fed it abundantly. 



The larger of the two young mourning-doves was placed in the pen with the ring- 

 doves, "pair C," and both birds exhibited fear. It was then placed in the nest at the time 

 of feeding. Both birds fed it and made no objection to its further presence in the nest. 

 Later this young bird jumped out of the nest onto the floor and the old male then attacked 

 it several times. The bird was then placed with "pair G," who fed it when it was intro- 

 duced into the nest at the time of feeding, but manifested hostility as soon as the feeding 

 was finished, although the bird remained in the nest. This young bird also reacted with 

 a show of hostility to both pairs of these ring-doves, although it eagerly accepted food 

 from them. This manifestation of hostility usually occurred when the foster-parents 

 returned to the nest after a short absence. After 17 days the old birds and the young 

 became accustomed to each other. All signs of fear and hostility disappeared and normal 

 relations were established. 



There is evidently some difference between pairs in their capacity to distinguish their 

 own offspring from foreigners. "Pair C" was able to distinguish out of the nest but made 

 no distinction within the nest. There is some degree of species reaction, but this can be 

 modified in the course of a few weeks. 



A hybrid from a common dove and a Japanese turtle-dove was in a cage containing 

 several other young, among which was a crested pigeon. The hybrid and the crested 

 pigeon sit side by side, fondling each others' head most affectionately; but the hybrid refuses 

 to allow either of the other two birds to come near him. If they approach he attacks with 

 his beak vigorously and they retreat to the perch. It may be that this affection is due 

 to his having had a crested pigeon for a foster-mother. I am more inclined to think so, 

 as this hybrid (and all others from the same parents) is rather quarrelsome and little 

 inclined to make friends with strangers. 



A pair of young Spilopelia tigrina 1 were placed, at the age of 6 weeks, in a pen with 

 numerous other doves (geopelia, green-wing, white- wing, ring-dove, and two hybrids). 

 They were placed in a nest-box on the right side of the pen and about 2 feet above the 

 floor. They snuggled down here, in preference to sleeping on the edge of the box, so as to 

 keep warm. I placed with them a young hybrid from the common dove and Japanese 

 turtle-dove, which was a cripple in one leg. All three made friends and slept together. 

 Ever after these same birds have invariably sought this same nest-box at night, and to- 

 night they are together inside the box. The young tigrina know their hybrid companion, 

 and he knows them, and all three of them will attack the other hybrids or the ring-doves, 

 if the latter try to roost on their Kox. Sometimes the hybrid companion attacks the two 



1 1 1 is possible that these young were Spil. suralensis. EDIT* m. 



