90 BIRD WATCHING 



them off. The originating cause would have ceased 

 or subsided, but the excitation consequent on the 

 bodily activity which had been thus aroused would 

 require a further outlet, and this might pass in time 

 into some prescribed play or antic which might after- 

 wards be indulged in for its own sake. 



My other instance is that of the oyster-catcher. If 

 anyone will watch these birds closely, he may see 

 three of them go through a performance bearing the 

 same sort of resemblance to that of the spur-winged 

 lapwing, that the combs of the humble - bee do to 

 the more perfect ones of the hive-bee. He may 

 see, for instance, two standing side by side with their 

 heads bent forwards and downwards, as the two lap- 

 wings bend theirs, though here the length of the 

 brilliant, orange - red bills, the tips of which, also, 

 almost touch the ground, make the angle of inclina- 

 tion a much lesser one. In this attitude they both 

 of them utter a long, continuous, piping note, of a 

 very powerful and penetrative quality, sometimes 

 swaying their heads from side to side as though in 

 ecstasy at their own performance, and seeming to 

 listen intently in a manner strongly suggestive of 

 the musical connoisseur. The third bird, who is 

 obviously the female, either stands or walks at a 

 short distance from the two pipers, who will fre- 

 quently follow and press upon her, and then, though 

 the march is not quite so formal and regular, it yet 

 bears for a few moments a considerable resemblance 

 to that of the spur-winged lapwing, as described and 

 figured in Mr Hudson's work. Of course, there is 

 really no march at all in the proper sense of the 

 word, but there is the occasional resemblance, and 



