152 THE PLAY OF ANIMALS. 



ber of males. . . . The first arrival looks anxiously about 

 for a second, but when he comes, should he prove not 

 exactly fit, a third and fourth are awaited, and then the 

 battle opens. Each having found his antagonist, they 

 fall to, fly at each other, and fight vigorously till 

 they are tired, when each returns to his place to rest 

 and collect his strength for the next round. This goes 

 on till they are exhausted and retire from the field, to 

 return soon, however, in most cases. More than two 

 never fight together, but if a good many are on the 

 ground at once, as often happens, they fight in pairs, 

 and cross one another in such marvellous leaps and 

 bounds that a spectator at a little distance would think 

 the birds were possessed of an evil spirit, or else gone 

 crazy. 



" When two of these birds come upon a grain at the 

 same time, they both stand still at first, trembling with 

 rage, then stooping so that the hind part of the body 

 is higher than the head, and rufiiing up their feathers, 

 they dart at each other, dealing sharp blows. . . . 

 Sometimes a female comes to the battle ground and 

 takes a place with the fighting males, yet she does not 

 long mix in the strife, but soon goes away. It may 

 happen that a male accompanies her and stays with 

 her, but two males never leave together or chase one 

 another on the wing. The battle is fought out on the 

 ground, and then peace is established." 



5. Constructive Arts. 



It is true that very few of the phenomena connected 

 with building by animals have anything to do with the 

 psychology of play, but before taking any further steps 

 it is necessary to inquire into the part played by in- 



