404 



UTILITARIAN ZOOLOGY 



PLAY 



Experimentation 



(Joy in being able) 



(Pretence: conscious self-deception) 



Plenty of examples of each of the three primary groups above 

 are to be found in the animal world. Self -exhibition as mani- 

 fested in Courtship arts is sufficiently illustrated by Birds and 

 Spiders, and some account of it has already been given (see 

 pp. 148 and 1 66). 



No better instance of Imitation could possibly be given than 

 the concerted Dances of some birds, graphically described by 

 Hudson (in The Naturalist in La Plata]. The following is his 

 account of the evolutions of the Spur -winged Lapwing (Hop- 

 lopterus cayamis, fig. 1283) of South America: " The lapwing 

 display, called by the natives its ' dance ', or ' serious dance '- 

 by which they mean square dance requires three birds for its 

 performance, and is, so far as I know, unique in this respect. 

 The birds are so fond of it that they indulge in it all the year 

 round, and at frequent intervals during the day, also on moon- 

 light nights. If a person watches any two birds for some time 

 for they live in pairs he will see another lapwing, one of a 

 neighbouring couple, rise up and fly to them, leaving his own 

 mate to guard their chosen ground; and instead of resenting 

 this visit as an unwarranted intrusion on their domain, as they 

 would certainly resent the approach of almost any other bird, 

 they welcome it with notes and signs of pleasure. Advancing 

 to the visitor, they place themselves behind it; then all three, 

 keeping step, begin a rapid march, uttering resonant drumming 

 notes in time with their movements; the notes of the pair behind 



