CHAP. IX. ASSOCIATIONS FOR RECREATION. 277 



are on the wing only in the evening. The associations 

 of the Ephemeras, or day flies, do not properly come 

 under the present head, since the sexes seem to be 

 by no means separated in their aerial dances. 



(292.) 5. There are certain animals which assemble 

 together for mutual enjoyment, and in such a manner, 

 that they can only be compared to human beings en- 

 joying the pleasures of relaxation by dancing and 

 singing. This development of the social principle 

 is apparent t>oth among vertebrated and annluose 

 animals; but is, perhaps, more striking in the latter 

 than the former. Everybody who has lived in the 

 Ticinity of a rabbit warren, must have remarked the 

 playful and even frolicksome nature of these pretty 

 creatures : the gregarious marmots of North America 

 {Arctomys), according to Dr. Richardson *, gambol 

 much in the same manner; but they generally have 

 the prudence to station a sentinel of their species on 

 an adjoining eminence, who gives notice of the ap- 

 proach of danger. Among birds, however, these sorts of 

 meetings are of a more decided character. Le Vaillant 

 gives the following amusing account of the African 

 damask parrot (Psittacus infuscatus Sh.) : " Every 

 day, at the same hour, these parrots fly to the water 

 to bathe themselves, in which operation they take great 

 delight : all the flocks of the whole canton assemble to- 

 wards evening, with much noise and animation, and 

 this is the signal for their visit to the water, which is 

 often at a great distance, since no other than the purest 

 water will please them. They are then seen huddling 

 or rolling over each other, pell-mell, on the banks of 

 the water, frolicking together, dipping their heads and 

 wings into the water, in such a manner, as to scatter it 

 over all their plumage, and exhibiting a most enter- 

 taining spectacle to the observer. This ceremony being 

 over, they revisit the trees on which they previously 

 assembled, where they sit in order to adjust and preen 

 their feathers ; and this being finished, they fly off in- 



* North. Zool. vol. i 

 T 3 



