Music and Dancing in Nature. 273 



bird, the first bird, on the appearance of its mate 

 flying to join it, begiDS to emit loud, measured 

 notes, and sometimes a continuous trill, somewhat 

 metallic in sound; but immediately on the other 

 bird striking in this introductory passage is changed 

 to triplets, strongly accented on the first note, in a 

 tempo vivace; while the second bird utters loud 

 single notes in the same time. While thus singing 

 they stand facing each other, necks outstretched 

 and tails expanded, the wings of the first bird 

 vibrating rapidly to the rapid utterance, while those 

 of the second bird beat measured time. The finale 

 consists of three or four notes, uttered by the 

 second bird alone, strong and clear, in an ascending 

 scale, the last very piercing. 



In the melodists proper the displays, in a majority 

 of cases, are exclusively vocal, the singer sitting still 

 on his perch. In the Troupials, a family of starling- 

 like birds numbering about one hundred and forty 

 species, there are many that accompany singing 

 with pretty or grotesque antics. The male scream- 

 ing cow-bird of La Plata, when perched, emits a 

 hollow-sounding internal note that swells at the end 

 into a sharp metallic ring, almost bell-like : this is 

 uttered with wings and tail spread and depressed, 

 the whole plumage being puffed out as in a strutting 

 turkey-cock, while the bird hops briskly up and 

 down on its perch as if dancing. The bell-like note 

 of the male is followed by an impetuous scream 

 from the fenmle, and the dance ends. Another 

 species, the common Argentine cow-bird of La 

 Plata, when courting puffs out his glossy rich violet 

 plumage, and, with wings vibrating, emits a succes- 



