BIRDS IN AUTHORITY 55 



birds were trotting freely about, uttering loud com- 

 manding notes, and apparently greatly excited about 

 something. I had seen nothing like that before, and 

 it puzzled me to account for their action. By-and-by 

 there was a fresh arrival ; a lapwing came to drink, 

 and instead of dropping down on the edge of the 

 water, he alighted about thirty feet away, at a distance 

 of two or three yards from the others, and remained 

 there, standing erect and motionless as if waiting. 

 The two busy birds, still crying aloud, now made 

 their way to him, and placing themselves behind him 

 and observing all the attitudes and gestures used in 

 their " dances " or marches and giving the signal, 

 the three set off at a trot" to the sound of drums and 

 the thirsty bird was run down to the water. He at 

 once went in to the depth of his knees and drank, 

 then squatting down, bathed his feathers, the whole 

 process lasting about half a minute. He would, no 

 doubt, have taken much longer over his refreshment 

 but for the two birds who had run him down to the 

 water, and who continued standing on the margin 

 emitting their loud authoritative cries. Coming out, 

 he was again received as at first, and trotted briskly 

 away with drumming sounds to a place with the 

 others. No sooner was this done than the two, 

 smoothing their feathers and changing their notes, 

 resumed their marching about among their fellows, 

 until another lapwing arrived, whereupon the whole 

 ceremony was gone through again. 



Without a doubt this performance had nothing 



