WHITETHROAT 
its territory, but it is not always so, for two females may 
arrive in the same territory more or less together, and when 
this occurs a battle takes place between them. Their method 
of fighting, and of showing antipathy to one another, is 
similar to that of the males; but inasmuch as a battle 
between the females is of much less frequent occurrence than 
one between the males, it is consequently so much the more 
interesting to watch. I regard this fact of the females fighting 
as one of some importance for the principle of breeding 
territory. The Whitethroat is the only species in .which, 
hitherto, I have seen the females thus fighting, but how easy 
it would be for a struggle of this kind to escape observation 
can be readily understood; it is, therefore, probable that the 
females of other species do, under similar circumstances, give 
battle to one another. | 
The fighting is intermittent, severe at one moment, less 
earnest at another, aud is limited to a restricted area. ‘The 
birds follow one another in the same bush, hopping from 
branch to branch, one being more of an aggressor than the 
other. Now and again an attack is delivered, resulting in 
much fluttering and pecking. During the pauses in the 
contest, which are frequent, the two combatants sit within a 
few feet of one another in the same tree, resting quietly or 
preening their feathers, appearing to be little troubled as to 
the issue of the contest. Nevertheless, when the fighting is 
actually in progress, they unmistakably show great excitement 
by their attitudes, for they fluff out the feathers on their breasts 
and flanks, raise those on their backs and heads, spread out 
their tails fully, flirting them as they hop from branch to 
branch, and all the time utter their call note as they pursue 
one another. 
The behaviour of the male who owns the territory in 
which the struggle takes place is, under the circumstances, 
interesting to watch, especially as he exhibits as many signs 
of excitement as the female. During the contest he hops 
hurriedly round, waving his outspread tail up and down, 
9 
