g-2 THE NATURALIST IN AUSTRALIA. 



a succeeding page, which in some respects bears a considerable resemblance to 

 Stegano/iliora. No members of the finch tribe, however, as so far observed and described, 

 would seem to possess any approach to so varied a repertoire of song and dance as 

 do the Gouldian species, which, added to their marvellously brilliant colouring and 

 merry sociable habits, qualifies them for occupying a foremost rank in the estimation 

 of all bird-fanciers. 



Some highly interesting examples of the dancing of birds other than finches are 

 recorded in W. H. Hudson's fascinating book " The Naturalist in La Plata." The per- 

 formances there chronicled are, however, chiefly associated with larger birds, such as Rails, 

 Pheasants, and Lapwings, and a number of individuals mostly acting i,n concert. Quoting, 

 however, another author's treatise, Mr. Bigg-Wither's " Pioneering in South Brazil," 

 Mr. Hudson's volume makes reference to a small bird of the size of a torn-tit, with 

 blue plumage and a red top-knot, known to the natives as the "dancing bird." It 

 assembles in flocks on the ground and adjacent shrubs, and, while one warbles, all the 

 others keep time with wings and feet in a kind of dance, at the same time twittering 

 an accompaniment. There can be but little doubt that the dancing performances of the 

 Poephilse here described are, to a large extent, purely sportive, and indulged in for their 

 individual amusement, quite independently of the mating season or any inherent desire to 

 commend themselves, from an aesthetic point of view, to the notice of the female members 

 of the flock. As stated in a previous paragraph, these finches can now be almost 

 always obtained in London at the leading dealers, so that any interested in this 

 subject can readily obtain specimens and observe for themselves. To keep these 

 little tropical finches in health, it is, of course, desirable to make provision against 

 their being exposed to too low a temperature, and more especially against draughts; 

 while, in order to witness the interesting phenomena here recorded of them to full 

 advantage, it is essential that they should be allowed abundant liberty. ' The accom- 

 modation provided for the author's specimens, and under which they have thriven 

 remarkably well, is the free run of his study, a sunny, well-lit room some eighteen 

 feet by twelve, and eleven high, in which abundant provision for fresh air and 

 ventilation is insured by the fitting of movable wire-netting screens to the window- 

 sashes. Perches and other congenial playing and resting objects are placed for the 

 birds on the top of two book cases, including, among other items, several hollow 

 cork-bark cylinders, within which one pair has already commenced to build a nest. 

 A couple of small cages being kept on the table with open doors with supplies 

 of food and water and shell sand, they repair to these systematically for their 



