52 THE HUMAN SIDE OF piRDS 



win the admiration of the less pretentious members 

 of the other sex, just as the Indian dances best in 

 the presence of the squaw whom he wishes to win 

 for his wife. 



The American sharp-tailed grouse is perhaps the 

 Isadora Duncan of the bird world. This interest- 

 ing dancing family thrives from Illinois to Alaska. 

 They begin their dances in the early spring after 

 getting their plumage in the most beautiful condi- 

 tion. The grouse assemble in small groups, and 

 wander around until another group is found; these 

 unite and the increased flock circle until still an- 

 other flock arrives. This continues until a flock has 

 reached the proper number. Then follows a most 

 elaborate preparation for the auspicious occasion. 



The ballroom floor is nothing more nor less than 

 a plot of ground of trampled grass about forty or 

 fifty feet square, located in small shrubbery so as 

 to be concealed from curious eyes, or enemies. 

 When this is in readiness the female birds demurely 

 retire to the edges of the grass-plot, where they 

 may watch the dance while they are themselves half 

 hidden by the surrounding shrubbery. As aU of 

 the males wish to participate, there are no profes- 

 sional musicians but each male furnishes his own 

 music. Ruffling up their neck feathers, dropping 

 their gawky and rapidly vibrating wings close to 



