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قراءة كتاب Territory in Bird Life
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TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:
There are a large number of compound words in this book including bird names which occur joined, spaced and hyphenated. No attempt has been made to correct these discrepancies as these are mostly alternative spellingd of thw same word. In the case of bird names it is difficult to decide as ornithologists are still debating on this subject.
TERRITORY IN BIRD LIFE
TERRITORY IN
BIRD LIFE
BY H. ELIOT HOWARD
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY
G. E. LODGE AND H. GRÖNVOLD
NEW YORK
E. P. DUTTON AND COMPANY
1920
PREFACE
When studying the Warblers some twenty years ago, I became aware of the fact that each male isolates itself at the commencement of the breeding season and exercises dominion over a restricted area of ground. Further investigation, pursued with a view to ascertaining the relation of this particular mode of behaviour to the system of reproduction, led to my studying various species, not only those of close affinity, but those widely remote in the tree of avian life. The present work is the outcome of those investigations. In it I have endeavoured to interpret the prospective value of the behaviour, and to trace out the relationships in the organic and inorganic world which have determined its survival. Much is mere speculation; much with fuller knowledge may be found to be wrong. But I venture to hope that a nucleus will remain upon which a more complete territorial system may one day be established.
I have to thank Mr. G. E. Lodge and Mr. H. Grönvold for the trouble they have taken in executing my wishes; I also want to record my indebtedness to the late E. W. Hopewell; and to Professor Lloyd Morgan, F.R.S., I am beholden more than I can tell.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | |
| CHAPTER I | |
|
Introduction |
1 |
| CHAPTER II | |
|
The Disposition to Secure a Territory |
20 |
| CHAPTER III | |
|
The Disposition to Defend the Territory |
73 |
| CHAPTER IV | |
|
The Relation of Song to the Territory |
119 |
| CHAPTER V | |
|
The Relation of the Territory to the System of Reproduction |
169 |
| CHAPTER VI | |
|
The Warfare between Different Species and its Relation to the Territory |
216 |
| CHAPTER VII | |
|
The Relation of the Territory to Migration |
259 |
|
Index |
302 |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| Faces page | |
|
A pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers attacking a Great Spotted Woodpecker |
Frontispiece |
|
Territorial flight of the Black-tailed Godwit |
54 |
|
Competition for territory is seldom more severe than individual Razorbills to secure positions on the among cliff-breeding seabirds, and the efforts of crowded ledges lead to desperate struggles |
64 |
|
Male Blackbirds fighting for the possession of territory. The bare skin on the crown of the defeated bird shows the nature of the injuries from which it succumbed. |
74 |
|
Male Cuckoos fighting before the arrival of a female |
82 |
|
Two pairs of Pied Wagtails fighting in defence of their territories |
86 |
|
Long-tailed Tit: males fighting for the possession of territory. The feathers have been torn from the crown of the defeated and dying rival |
96 |
|
A battle between two pairs of Jays |