Carl Naether—Do Doves Tell Time ? 85


the ground in an aviary with a solid roof. Nine-thirty said my trusty

watch that first day, but the following day, to my surprise, the male

bird relieved his faithful mate at 7.45. At first he sat quietly on the

corner of the nest-box. Then he began carefully to edge his way into

the nest until he finally sat beside his mate, who seemed reluctant to

leave it, as if she did not trust him very much. The morning of the

third day was cloudy so that the sunlight did not enter the Doves 5

flight until quite late. It was therefore no great surprise to find the

male Dove beginning his daily incubation at 9.32. However, the next

day, which was sunny, found him taking his place beside his mate,

who for some reason known only to herself would simply not leave her

plain abode at 7.40. Having waited in vain for ten or fifteen minutes,

lie flew away and did not return to the nest until shortly before nine

o’clock, at which time he had no trouble whatever in inducing his hand¬

some wife to let him take his turn at incubating.


On the two succeeding mornings, both bright with sunshine,

Mr. Harlequin went to work promptly at 7.45 and 7.48 respectively, thus

indicating that the length of his stay on the nest is probably governed

by the brightness of the prevailing light. On these two occasions, the

female, instead of leaving the nest slowly as usual, flew off quickly

at the* approach of her mate. Apparently she was hungry and did not

have to be urged to relinquish the nest for a time.


Even though the sun shone brightly and early the morning follow¬

ing, it was not until 8.44, or approximately an hour later than on the

preceding day, that I saw the Doves exchanging places on the little

nest. And, lo behold, the day after that my timepiece pointed to

9.41. “ Why so late on this clear morning, Mr. Harlequin ? ” I felt


like asking. For answer he continued to sit very still, eyeing me

nervously as if to say, “ If you don’t want my good mate to work from

this moment on and all the rest of this long day, you had better not

come any closer.” At no time during the period of observation did

the birds exchange places again at so late a time. The figures for

the succeeding mornings are as follows: 8.12, 7.40, 9.2, 7.50,

8.50, 8.15, and 8.32.


As soon as young appeared in the nest, the male practically went

on a vacation, for I found his mate doing most of the brooding in the



