192 BIRD WATCHING 



by having its poll scratched ; though, with regard to 

 this, we must not forget the look of supreme satisfac- 

 tion which a monkey often has whilst a friend is 

 doing his best to make him clean and respectable. 

 With the foot-cleaning there is no such attitude and 

 expression. The bird helped is at the same time an 

 active agent, and both of them are careful, earnest, 

 and investigatory. It struck me, however, that the 

 chick was cosseted in a somewhat more business-like 

 manner, as though, if not actually to clean it, at least 

 to make it spruce and tidy. It seems probable, 

 indeed, that the conferring a practical benefit of the 

 kind indicated may be one origin of the caress 

 throughout nature; but others may be imagined. 



The usual cause of guillemots fighting would seem 

 to be one of them moving to a sufficient degree to 

 attract the attention of the one nearest to it, who 

 then — as though the circumstances permitted of no 

 other course — delivers a vigorous thrust with its long, 

 spear-like bill. This is the usual way of fighting, 

 so that a combat has something the appearance of 

 a fencing-match. The two birds stand upright with 

 their bodies turned more sideways towards each other, 

 than actually fronting, so that their heads, which alone 

 do so, are twisted a little round. They stand at such 

 a distance apart, that when the neck is held straight 

 up, with the head flying out at a right angle, the tips 

 of their two long lances just touch, so that the birds 

 form a natural archway. In this position they make 

 quick, repeated thrusts at each other, usually directed 

 at the face or neck, by a motion of which, rather than 

 by parrying with the beak, each endeavours to avoid 

 the lunge of its adversary. But besides 



