242 THE HUMAN SIDE OF BIRDS 



hang under its chin exactly like the white bands 

 formerly used by clergymen hence the name. 

 These interesting tumblers work in teams of six to 

 eight, and may be seen on clear days tumbling, 

 wheeling, soaring, and dropping in the air doing 

 everything known to the modern aviator, from 

 somersaults to sailing upward suddenly like a sky- 

 rocket, then closing their wings and supporting 

 themselves by a rapid beating of their tails, which 

 suddenly changes into a gliding parachute descent. 

 They open their wings upon nearing the ground, 

 and then either suddenly arise again, or fly away 

 as if by a magic sign, and disappear in the dis- 

 tance. 



The female pheasant is a wanderer, and has no 

 permanent place of abode, except when she has a 

 nest, but the cock is so devoted to his theatre, when 

 once it is established, that the Malays, who thor- 

 oughly understand his ways, take advantage of him 

 in a most ingenious manner. While he is away for 

 food or recreation, they secretly enter his theatre or 

 drawing-room and drive a thin tough bamboo splin- 

 ter, as sharp as a razor, in the middle of the floor. 

 As soon as the actor returns he seens the strange ob- 

 ject and attempts to remove it by pulling with his 

 beak, but it will not come, and finally in despera- 

 tion he wraps his neck around it, and with a des- 



