150 THE PLAY OF AXIMALS. 



it seems to be done chiefly to prove how formidable 

 they are and how fearless. They slowly come together 

 with stiffened legs, back up, and ears and tail erect; 

 and each seeks to determine by characteristic and comic 

 sniffing what sort of fellow he has to do with. Then 

 they slowly walk around each other for some time, keep- 

 ing the legs stiff and each with his head turned, as 

 if aiming an attack at the others throat. Even after 

 all this they are very likely to separate quietly, but 

 sometimes they come to open combat. With frightful 

 screams they leap at one another, show their teeth, 

 growling, and sometimes bite a little, but almost always 

 part without having gone to the length of a serious 

 struggle. 



My other example is from Baldamus's description 

 of the night heron: " When no marauder disturbs them 

 they find means to torment one another, chasing and 

 fighting with loud cries. They have a peculiar game of 

 climbing, during which they sometimes get into the 

 most ridiculous situations and scream constantly. For 

 example, while a female is busy appropriating a twig or 

 some such matter from a neighbouring nest, it occurs to 

 the male to pick at the feet of a bird standing above 

 him. The offended one spreads his wings threatening- 

 ly, opens his beak, and tries to retaliate, but is so closely 

 pressed by the aggressor that he retreats until the end 

 of the limb is reached or the courage of despair inspires 

 the victim. The amusing feature of it lies in the con- 

 trast between the extravagantly threatening aspect of 

 the aggrieved bird and his trifling efforts at defence. 

 The wide-open beak, the constantly varying cries, ^ Koau! 

 krau! krau! ^ etc., the flaming eyes, red and flashing with 

 rage, the wings raised so threateningly, the head alter- 

 nately drawn back and protruded, the extraordinary 



