40 A STATELY MINUET. 



geration. The dances I saw were strictly pas- 

 de-deux, and they always began by a flash of 

 wings and two birds alighting on the grass, 

 about a foot apart. Both instantly drew them- 

 selves up perfectly erect, tail elevated at an 

 angle of forty-five degrees, and wings held 

 straight down at the sides. Then followed a 

 most droll dance. Number one stood like a 

 statue, while number two pranced around, with 

 short, mincing steps and dainty little hops 

 which did not advance him an inch ; first he 

 passed down the right, then turned and went 

 down the left, all in the queer, unnatural man- 

 ner of short hops and steps, and holding himself 

 rigidly erect, while number one always faced 

 the dancer, whichever way he turned. After a 

 few moments of this movement, number one 

 decided to participate, and when his partner 

 moved to the right he did the same ; to the left 

 he still accompanied him, always facing, and 

 maintaining the exact distance from him. Then 

 number two described a circle around number 

 one, who turned to face him with short hops 

 where he stood. Next followed a chassS of 

 both birds to the right ; then a separation, one 

 dancing to the right and the other to the left, 

 always facing, and always slowly and with dig- 

 nity. This stately minuet they kept up for 

 some time, and appeared so much like a pair 



