54 ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



standing abreast, their plumage puffed out, and then 

 with loud, rhythmical, drumming notes uttered by 

 the pair, and loud single measured notes by the 

 leader, they begin a rapid march, stepping in time 

 to the music ; then, when the march is ended the 

 leader as a rule lifts his wings and holds them erect, 

 still emitting loud notes, while the two behind, still 

 standing abreast with slightly opened wings and 

 puffed-out feathers, lower their heads until the tips 

 of their beaks touch the ground, at the same time 

 sinking their voices until the drumming sound dies 

 to a whisper. The performance is then over, and is 

 repeated, or if the visitor is in a hurry he takes his 

 departure, to rejoin his mate and receive a visitor 

 himself by-and-by. 



One dry summer, long after the breeding-season 

 was over while out riding I passed by a lagoon, or 

 lakelet, where the birds from all the plain for some 

 miles round were accustomed to come to drink, and 

 noticed a gathering of about a hundred lapwings 

 standing quietly near the water. It was evident 

 they had all had their drink and bath, and were drying 

 and preening their feathers and resting before going 

 back to their several feeding-grounds. On seeing 

 them my attention was instantly arrested by the 

 singular behaviour of two birds, the only restless 

 noisy ones in that quiet, silent company. It was not a 

 close company ; every bird had a good space to 

 himself, his nearest neighbour standing a foot or 

 more away, and right in among them the two restless 



