BIRDS. 



59 



INTRODUCTORY SALUTATIONS. 



singing simultaneously, and that all of them commenced together after a preliminary 

 signal note from one individual. As a matter of fact, there was only one singing bird 

 at that time, and a wee piping note, as though from a Liliputian boatswain's whistle, 

 is the customary prelude 

 to the male bird's song. 



It will seem to 



many readers, probably, 

 very much like romancing 

 when to the substance of 

 the foregoing paragraph 

 the information is added 

 that these birds dance as 

 well as sing, and not 

 only this, but one will pipe and the other dance, or both will dance and sing together, 

 or vary their most amusing performances in a variety of manners. The discovery 

 of the terpsichorean accomplishments of these Poephilre was made very soon after 

 giving them their liberty in a small congenially heated room supplied with convenient 

 perches. Accustomed at first to sleep in a cage at night, the primary act that 

 usually followed their liberation in the morning was the repairing of the little flock to 

 their favourite top perch. After a brief interval, two of the males, a scarlet and a 

 black-capped individual found themselves next door neighbours, and the ball, or more 



strictly speaking, the pas de deux 

 began. As is de regie at such 

 functions associated with human 

 participants, there was a cere- 

 monious preliminary interchange of 

 courtesies, which was in itself a 

 remarkable performance. Both 

 birds, turning towards each other, 

 would bring their beaks down nearly 

 to the level of the perch, and while 

 retaining them in this deflected 

 position, vibrate their heads with 

 great rapidity, at the same time 

 uttering their somewhat plaintive 



' 



W. Samlle-Eent , del. 





THE PAS DE DEUX. 



