Page:Howard's 'Territory in Bird Life.' - Witmer Stone - The Auk, 38(2) - P0288-p0290.pdf/1

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Howard's 'Territory in Bird Life.'—Those who have read Mr. Howard's work on the British Warblers will recall the attention that he gave to the origin and development of various activities connected with reproduction, and the ingenious and suggestive theories and explanations that he presented in this connection. The present volume carries out many of these theories on broader lines linking together various phases of sexual behavior, song and migration under the general impulse of reproduction. Mr. Howard has produced an intensely interesting volume and while he does not pretend to have sifted the matter to the bottom and while we may think of many exceptions to some of his theories, he has nevertheless presented a mass of observations and clever explanation which will serve as food for thought and demand the careful attention of everyone interested in the study of bird behaviour.

Our author's investigations have led him to regard the establishment of a definite "territory" or domain by each breeding male, as the key note to the whole subject. First there is an organic change which stimulates the male to isolate himself from the flock, involving more or less of a migration; then there is the finding of an environment appropriate for purposes of reproduction, in which the male establishes himself, fighting off any rivals that come within his domain; and finally the arrival of a female with which he mates and together they defend their territory and accomplish the duties of reproduction. It follows, as the author admits, that upon his theory the discovery of a mate rests largely upon the female which reverses the accepted order or procedure. "But after all" he says "what reason is there to suppose that the male seeks the female or that a initial search takes place; what reason to think that this part of the process is subject to no control except such as may be supposed by the laws of chance?"

The male, he goes on to show, cannot leave his "territory" without danger of its usurpation and as rapidity of mating is essential, some guidance to the female is necessary and here is where song comes in. Male birds rarely sing, especially with full vigor, until established in their "territory" and hence the fully developed song is always an advertisement of a male ready for mating. If singing began before the territory was selected the female would be attracted by a male not yet at the stage for mating, and reproduction would in such case be delayed. It of course not infrequently happens that two females are attracted by the same male and then follows a physical combat just as occurs between males