232 THE HUMAN SIDE OF BIRDS 



after sunrise. The gallant actor then leaves his 

 perch, and salutes his numerous mates who have so 

 favoured him with an admiring audience ; from one 

 to the other he walks as they greet him with soft 

 caressing tones, as a Sultan is greeted in his harem ! 



The bower bird of Australia builds a charming 

 theatre or playhouse, which in perfection of art re- 

 minds one of Stuart Walker's Portmanteau Thea- 

 tre. . . . "The theatre that comes to you." In 

 reality the bower bird carries or builds his little 

 playhouse near his lover's favourite haunts, and 

 therein he acts playlets which portray all the emo- 

 tions of his race. He dances, acts, sings, and courts, 

 all at the same time, and ends by "popping the ques- 

 tion" with his final bow. 



Every bird actor has his own way of making love. 

 The snipe slides in circles, dancing like a fairy in 

 the loveliest way imaginable, as he bows and pleads 

 in a most convincing manner ; the brilliant and tal- 

 ented ibis seats himself in a graceful position before 

 the one he would have for his mate ; while the mock- 

 ing-bird tumbles in the air, singing all night long. 

 Cranes have a regular serenade and cake-walk 

 which might compare very favourably with our old 

 time negro cake-walks. 



The common cake-walk has been known to birds 

 for ages, and the laysan albatross, according to Mr. 



