23
1909.
Feb. 27
(No 23)
Back Bay Basin,
Boston, Mass.
Whistler courtship.
I thought, by the shower of water that the bird usually 
(but by no means invariably) kicks into the air when
calling. As nearly as I was able to determine this action
either accompanies or very closely follows the production of
the vocal note. It may be, however, that this interval
between the two is sometimes longer than my observations
have led me to suppose.
  The Whistler drakes often indulged in forms of
gesturing or posturing more or less nearly akin to some
of those already described yet different in certain respects.
Thus they would sometimes take the bowsprit or the
topmast posture without becoming rigid in it or mainting it
for more than the fraction of a second. Frequently they
would dip their bills in the water and then extend
their necks as far forward or upward as they could
well reach, at the same time opening and closing
Dipping & swallowing?