98 GROTESQUE ANTICS 



In the case of the nightjar the difficulties 

 are still greater, for the would-be observer is 

 more or less hampered by obscurity. 



In conjunction with vocal and instrumental 

 sounds, some creatures perform very wonder- 

 ful, not to say grotesque, antics, and " dress 

 up " to enhance the effect. Contrary to the 

 human fashion, it is invariably the males who 

 wear the " fine feathers " and " strut " and 

 even " dance " in order to show themselves 

 off to their less resplendent partners who, in 

 the meantime, appear supremely indifferent 

 and unconscious, which, from their unreason- 

 ing point of view, they undoubtedly are. 



All such displays are rapturous, subconscious 

 manifestations of nature at the zenith of her 

 perfection — ^the love season when the Force- 

 of-Life is exerted to the full and results in 

 reproduction or the furtherance of the life- 

 principle in yet another generation. 



