238 THE HUMAN SIDE OF BIRDS 



and beauty, and adds the final point of perfection 

 to an exquisite actor-artist. In fact, as an actor, 

 he has no rival. While he is not acting, there is 

 nothing extraordinary in either his appearance or 

 his manner, but as soon as his acting or courting 

 season begins he uses every known art of the actor 

 to portray his work. 



At the beginning of his theatrical season, he se- 

 lects a level spot in a deep, quiet forest for his per- 

 manent "playhouse," and from this he sweeps away 

 all dead leaves and underbrush for a space of six 

 to eight yards square, until nothing remains but the 

 clear, clean earth. Even a fallen dead leaf is im- 

 mediately cleared away, and he would no more 

 allow a straw to lie on his clean floor than a ballet 

 dancer would permit rubbish on the stage on which 

 she appears. 



Alone, this gorgeous actor spends his weary days 

 gesticulating and calling at brief intervals, "How- 

 how, how, how, howl" This note is sometimes re- 

 peated from eight to ten times, or until a female 

 pheasant answers by untranslatable words, "How- 

 owoo, how-o woo-oo-ool" Then the forest echoes 

 with the answering calls of these actors until the 

 female condescends to approach the theatre or 

 playground. Here she witnesses a most remark- 



