SPECTATOR COMPETITION No. 29

Report by R. Kennard Davis

A prize was offered for an essay on The Fascination of Man- Watching, by a Bird.

It is clear from the number and variety of the entries submitted that man-watching has become a popular activity among birds, practised by some from idle or sentimental curiosity and by others in the strictest scientific spirit. Essays have been received from the owl, tit petrel, gull, rtdbreast, sparrow, martin and others ; but—fortunately for the rest—there was no Jonathan Swift among the competitors.

The behaviour of the human species has been subjected to close and accurate observation ; but the purpose, if any, of most of his activities remains hidden from the feathered watchers. His migra- tions have naturally attracted great attention ; Professor Tuwhitt "favours the contention that these excursions are for washing, rarely observed in humans at other seasons, and that this and the removal of clothes, and sun-baking the body, may be for the riddance of parasites."

"It is doubtful," writes Falco Gubbuteo, "whether Man possesses any true song, but they have a bewildering variety of notes in addi- tion to their normal monotonous twittering." " Call-notes," remarks Avis, "are innumerable ; many appear to be addressed to the young, but we noted no specific responses." " Courtship," says one observer, "is silent and deliberate." Kestrel describes a pro- longed hover over a pair who "sat claw-in-claw under a tree for some. two hours.' Another mentions "the unaesthetic devices of the females to enhance their courtship display by artificial colora- tion of the gape and talons."

Much curious and valuable information about Mankind is con- tributed from the various nests. I recommend that the worm be divided between E. P Heriz-Smith (£3) and H. A. C. Evans (£2). Among those who also flew, I liked best the quill-work of Miss Nan Wishart, Miss V. E. Stark and Miss S. M. Gifford of the hens, and Sir John Thorne, Rev. E. T. Vernon and Terence Kelly of the male birds. Anne Hickmott is a promising chick.

FIRST PRIZE

(E. P. Holtz-SMITH)

I can hear you twittering, " Man-watching! How revolting!"

But rest assured that this is a fascinating pastime. It is clean and healthy, and, provided you are careful to avoid the bird-eating exploder, as safe as flight.

There is no better way of passing the idle perching than by investigating these mammals who encumber the earth and pollute our skies. Have you not yourself sometihies wondered, as you bank to avoid their clumsy attempts at flight, are humans bird-like? Although the Panornithic Society for Anthropological Research is still in its egg, iand its methods are still rather " soar and stall," much Valuable work has already been done. You may know Parxot on- Anthropoid Speech Sounds; while Canary's Sex in the Love-Nest, though strong worm for chicks, is a classic of its kind. Remember, both these distinguished old With started as amateur man-watchers before they took it up professionally.

Many mysteries remain. Nobody yet understands the daily migrations of the Black polled Stripeleg. The habits of the now almost extinct Leisured Potterer, with its frequent changes of pigmentation and annual moulting by the sea, remain obscure. Then there is the man-fetish erected in its fields by the Diggerman. Rook has suggested that it has religious significance, but this is uncertain. If the keen man-watcher is very lucky, he may even sriot the Snail-eyed Peeper, a denizen of field and woodland, with crude habits of protective colouring.

There is much to be seen. On your next g:ide round the eddies, give man-watching a trial. You will never regret it.

• - SECOND PRIZE (H. A. C. Evors)

I have found that the best time to watch Man is in the sumnier, for in the winter the species I have chiefly observed—Homo Suburbanus- tends to stay within the nest.

They are gregarious all the year round and often move in large flocks. Every day the adult males and the young of both sexes, except the fledglings, leave the nest until the evening. This behaviour is not con- nected with the getting of food, which is left to the females and, occasionally, the older males.

Their plumage is finer in summer than winter, but less thick, and subject to frequent moults—apparently connected ' somehow with the strength of the sunshine. The females are usually brighter than the males, though I have observed some splendid specimens of male plumage at some of their periodic summer flock ings.

The mating season lasts throughout the year, with greatest incidence in summer. During courtship both males and females indulge in all manner of entertaining by-play. Then the females put forth their finest plumage, and I have known them draw loud whistles from a nearby group of males. The latter seem to rely on display rather than combat to win favour. I have occasionally witnessed the mobbing of a male by a flock of females.

They migrate annually to the sea shore for periods varying from one day to several weeks, and some migrate overseas for short spells.

Their song is varied but unpleasing and takes place, oddly, within the nest, for a short period each morning.