ANTICS AND ODOR AMONG THE BIRDS. gi 
see one mission of the air spaces beneath the skins of 
birds. 
Again, a single snipe or woodcock may get his 
“intended ” off entirely to herself, and exhibit in pe- 
culiar dances and jigs that he is hers and hers only, 
or he may arise high on the wing and cut the most 
peculiar capers and gyrations in the air, either pro- 
testing to her in the grass beneath the most earnest 
devotion, or advertising to her his whereabouts and 
his Barkis-like condition. It is quite likely that in 
this latter case he is trying to induce her to come to 
the trysting place, and does not know just where she 
is yet. In some sandpipers the male’s crop is inflated 
as he flies—a state which he doubtless thinks adds to 
his appearance. 
This brings us to that more usual form of antic 
involving the display of pretty parts. So certain is a 
bird to make such display that in many cases the style 
of the antic can be predicted from the position of the 
color or ornament. The strutting of peacock and 
turkey cock scarcely needs mention. 
A most striking and familiar instance among 
our small birds is seen in the flicker, already noted, 
as not fighting his rival. His back is protectively 
colored, except there is a white rump spot which acts 
as a signal or banner color during flight, but is usually 
hidden by the wings when the bird is against a tree 
trunk. There is also a red stripe across his nape. 
But his lower parts in front are beautifully polka- 
dotted, a black crescent or locket lies across his chest, 
and his wings and tail are lined with a beautiful yel- 
