BIRD ACTORS AND THEATRES 233 



Walter K. Fisher's description, is very interesting. 

 He says: "At first two birds approach one another, 

 bowing profoundly and stepping heavily. They 

 swagger about each other, nodding and curtsying 

 solemnly, then suddenly begin to fence a little, 

 crossing bills and whetting them together, some- 

 times with a whistling sound, meantime still peck- 

 ing and dropping little bows. All at once one lifts 

 its closed wing and nibbles at the feathers beneath, 

 or rarely, if in a hurry, quickly turns its head. The 

 partner during this short performance assumes a 

 statuesque pose, and either moves mechanically 

 from side to side, or snaps its bill loudly a few times. 

 Then the bird bows once, and pointing its head and 

 beak straight upward, rises on its toes, puffs out its 

 breast, and utters a prolonged, nasal Ah-h-h-h, with 

 a rapidly rising inflection. While this 'song' is be- 

 ing uttered, the companion loudly and rapidly snaps 

 its bill. Often both birds raise their heads in air 

 and either one or both favour the appreciative au- 

 dience with the ridiculous and indescribable bovine 

 groan. When they have finished they begin bow- 

 ing to each other again, rapidly and alternately, 

 and presently repeat the performance, the birds 

 sometimes reversing their role in the game." 



Certain species of bird-actors perform their feats 

 only during the courting season. Their extraordi- 



