Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.
| www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
763
not disturbed by taunts.
responded to my taunts of old age and inability to catch the younger
on that account, by opening and closing his eyes with sleepy
gurgles. However, he saw Bb again before I did and started toward him
Though they were only about six feet away I had to go go about 50
yards to get on the lawn side of the bushes where they were. On
arrival B was found sitting quietly on the edge of the grass doing
nothing and Bb about 6 feet from him hopping about cheerfully in
the bushes. B soon began his undersong again and from Bb's direction
came an undersong of similar volume and quality, adult in character.
Neither contained imitations, and as I left, B was just settling down
to another period of song.
Bb still here. At 2:55 a casual glance shows Bb eating at the station at the oval
lawn and B not heard or seen. The chase, then, has ended in no
removal of Bb from the place where he began.
B's strategy. The impression gained of B's present policy is that he is relying
on making it mildly annoying to Bb to remain in his (B's) immediate
neighborhood, trusting to time to effect a final separation rather
than to force the issue. There is a question also, whether B by
physical means alone, without the aid of Nova, could accomplish
this result. There is no evidence that he has such aid, at least in
respect to Bb. What Nova and Nb are doing is not known.
Sept. 10th.
B starts nest? 12:55 P.M. At this moment Brownie seems to think that he is
building a nest in his night roost, but only time will show how serious
are his intentions. From time to time he bursts into full song, as
if calling to his mate to lend a hand.
Early song was heard mostly before 6 and the morning was relatively
quiet, though B sang occasionally and whistled his musical phrase
is recorded for the first time on p.474. This phrase so human in quality
that it is startling.
B has platform. 1:10. Brownie actually has a slight platform constructed at his