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[[circle]] 175 [[/circle]]

[[underline]] modestus [[/underline]], Dec. 3, 1955, IV.

In case I forgot to mention in before, this [[image-symbol for female]] running away from [[image-symbol for male]], to be followed by [[image-symbol for male]] right away or after a few seconds delay, the whole procedure frequently repeated, is not uncommon in the group as a whole. I have seen it in a lot of pairs. It is characteristic of early pairing

One bird giving particularly vigorous aerial LC., during very fast glide (but not very steep), had neck & head pointed slightly upward at the end of the L.C. glide [[image-drawing of bird in flight facing to the left with beak open]] This was actually the most extreme aerial semi-O I have seen so far Very long & slender effect.

The aerial M notes are given from the same posture most aerial L.C.'s and many aerial LCN's are; i.e. neck stretched forward, but bill, head & neck essentially horizontal

Have just heard an aerial L.C. followed immediately by one "clear" LCN. This was very reminiscent of Franklin's Gull. There was certainly no trace of T with this L.C.N

Note about orientation of mutual T'ing before copulation. [[image-symbol for male]] faces [[image-symbol for female]]'s face until his [[drive?]] increases and he tries to get behind her. Usually mounts from behind her, facing forward; but by no means always. [[image-symbol for female]] faces [[image-symbol for male]], keeps turning to face him when he tries to get behind her, until she is ready to let him mount, when she stops turning. As I mentioned before, the mutual face-to-face T'ing is sometimes accompanied by a little, very brief, "billing". The [[image-symbol for female]] usually takes the initiative in this; and I think it is probably connected with FB. But I have just seen a [[image-symbol for male]] take the initiative in billing.

Have just seen a pair in which [[image-symbol for female]] appeared to be slightly larger than [[image-symbol for male]] (I am pretty sure of my identification. The small [[image-symbol for male]] just fed the [[image-symbol for female]], then mounted her, and an apparently normal copulation took place) This is certainly a surprise!

I wonder why I see so little aerial "pair-formation" behavior these days. Is that phase about over?

Leaving 7:17.