s species. Throughout
April, May, and until the 19th June, it clung to its small plot of
ground, tolerated no intrusion, and sang incessantly.

Two Whitethroats arrived at much the same time--the 30th April
approximately--and occupied the corner of a small plantation; the one
obtained a mate the day following its arrival, the other remained
unpaired for a fortnight.

A Reed-Warbler established itself amongst some willows and alders
adjoining a reed-bed and made its headquarters in a small willow bush.
Not more than fifteen yards away, on the edge of the main portion of the
reeds, another male was established and was paired on the 22nd May. Each
morning the single male behaved in much the same way, singing
continuously whilst perched upon the bush. And so the days passed by
until it seemed improbable that it would ever secure a mate, but one
appeared on the 20th June, and a nest was built forthwith.

Now it is difficult to believe that a chance visit, even though repeated
for a few mornings in succession, could have accounted for the
Reed-Bunting remaining so persistently in the marsh, or the Whitethroat
in one corner of the osier bed, or the Reed-Warbler in that one
particular willow. Not only so, but if a habit of such evident strength
can be acquired so readily, we have a right to ask why it should only be
acquired in the spring--why not at every season? Considerations such as
these lead to the belief that there must be some congenital basis to
account for such persistent endeavour; the more so since it is difficult
not to be impressed with the conative aspect of the male's behaviour. To
a stranger, unacquainted with its previous history, the bird might
appear to be leading a life of hesitation, whereas, if carefully
watched, its whole attitude will be found to betray symptoms of a
striving towards some end; and the frequent departure and return, which
might be pointed to as the material from which a definite mode of
procedure would be likely to emerge, is in reality behaviour of a
determinate sort.

My interpretation, then, of the apparent indecision in the behaviour of
the resident male is this. During the winter most species live in
societies, together they seek their food and together they retire in the
evening to the accustomed roosting places; and the association of
different individuals confers mutual benefits upon the associates. The
movements of these societies are dominated by the question of food; all