SEPTEMBER REVELRY 33 



bough. The wings then are folded, lifted, refolded, 

 and lifted again, as though their owners are unable 

 to adjust them quite satisfactorily. But there are 

 times when a company of Cuckoo-Shrikes will keep 

 this up to the extent of turning the practice into a 

 distinct game something in the nature of see-saw. 



The rollicking chortle which accompanies this 

 performance gets beyond the curiously-rolling note 

 characteristic of the Cuckoo-Shrike. I heard it to 

 splendid advantage on one of these vital days of 

 early September, a few years ago. First of all, 

 there was but one bird calling, and it took a little 

 locating, for the peculiar, indefinite trill has ven- 

 triloquial qualities. After a while, the trill was 

 rounded oif with a sharp, melodious pipe, which 

 would have seemed to come from a distance but that 

 it followed so smartly. Next, the musician varied 

 matters with a human-like ejaculation, thrice re- 

 peated something between a soft laugh and a 

 groan. The next note, or series of notes, resembled 

 nothing so much as the creaking of branches, and in 

 this bar another bird joined. Suddenly, a third 

 Graucalus materialised near by, and the three merry 

 hearts gave a spirited trio, apparently on the little 

 bamboo instruments from which we boys used to 

 extract "music." I concede, however, that the birds 

 were a good deal more melodious than, and ob- 

 viously all as happy as, any holiday-making boy. 



The characteristic rolling note will first be heard 

 as the birds fly overhead on their southward jour- 

 ney. It is best syllabilised by the aboriginal expres- 

 sion "Kai-a-lora" say that over with full play of 

 the tongue a name taken from the natives by 



c 



