Page:The British Warblers A History with Problems of Their Lives - 3 of 9.djvu/45

 and a note, which I call the mating note, a low gurgling sound, is frequently used by both of them. The male is the more demonstrative of the two, and when near the female he will sometimes raise and quietly flap his wings. They are never separate for very long, but sometimes each travels in his or her own direction in search of food. If, however, the male sings, a reply—the call-note of the species—will generally be forthcoming from the female. On the other hand, they will often travel within a few feet of one another, searching for the Chironomidæ, or flying off and on to the ivy berries, the flies not being sufficient to satisfy their hunger. Periodical outbursts of excitement on the part of the male are not uncommon; the cause is often difficult to ascertain, but sometimes it is quite apparent; when, for instance, there is excitement amongst the different individuals of his own or other closely allied species. When two male Garden-Warblers have been excitedly following one another, hopping about amongst the undergrowth, I have seen a male Blackcap join them. The three then proceeded to hop about, keeping close together and warbling quietly, the effect being very pretty.

Such is the life between the time that pairing has taken place and the commencement of the nest, a time which varies in individual cases from a few hours to a day or perhaps more.

When watching a pair during this period it would be a simple matter to describe the affection or devotion that apparently exists between them, but such a description would be misleading. As previously indicated. I believe that the guiding factor of the actions of the male, not so much perhaps of the female, at this period is the sexual passion. I am doubtful whether such an emotion as affection, using the term in the sense applied to human personality, influences their actions in any degree, or, indeed, even exists. There are many birds that pair for life, and there are some that apparently pine for a lost mate, and these facts seem