Page:The British Warblers A History with Problems of Their Lives - 7 of 9.djvu/48

 To an observer unacquainted with their habits, the males might appear to be pugnacious and to be constantly quarrelling with their neighbours. The word "pugnacity" however implies a wilful and useless bickering, a quarrelling more for pleasure than for a purpose, and casts an unjust reflection on the character of the bird. I do not mean to say that of its frequent pursuits of other species none could justly come under the heading of "play," but that in the majority of instances there is a true cause, having its root in the question of territory. Various species are flown at, attacked, and pursued; Hedge Sparrows, Sedge-, Reed- and Garden-Warblers, Whitethroats and Chiff-Chaffs all run the risk of a small encounter when they enter the domain of a male; and if we are to judge by attitude he is not always irritated in a similar degree by such intrusions, for sometimes he neither raises his feathers nor spreads his tail. Perhaps it would be more correct to say that the presence of a bird of another species seldom brings about that extreme irritation which results in attitudes bearing only one interpretation, but that the intrusion of a neighbouring male of his own kin frequently does so. This objection to the presence of another male in his territory can be witnessed not only when a female is present, but even before her arrival. At the same time it is more in evidence in its active form and more intense when she is present. Nor is it unnatural that this should be so, for sexual emotion has then reached its maximum development, creating a high degree of irritability which would be reflected in and would increase the intensity of every motor reaction, no matter what the stimulus. The attitudes which result follow similar lines to those of the majority of other species, but they are decidedly more intense than those of the Reed Warbler. To describe instances of extreme excitement: a male enters the territory of his neighbour; the owner, a little distance away, threatens, scolds, opens his wings and then flies towards him, upon which he beats a retreat. Or a male, espying an intruder, flies towards him, and settling a few feet away raises the feathers on his