BIRDS. 59 
singing simultaneously, and that all of them commenced together after a preliminary 
signal note from one individual. As a matter of fact, there was only one singing bird 
at that time, and a wee piping note, as though from a Liliputian boatswain’s whistle, 
is the customary prelude 
to the male bird’s song. 
It will seem to 
many readers, probably, 
very much like romancing 
when to the substance of 
the foregoing paragraph 
the information is added 
that these birds dance as 
well as sing,—and not INTRODUCTORY SALUTATIONS. 
only this, but one will pipe and the other dance, or both will dance and sing together, 
or vary their most amusing performances in a variety of manners. The discovery 
of the terpsichorean accomplishments of these Poephile was made very soon after 
giving them their liberty in a small congenially heated room supplied with convenient 
perches. Accustomed at first to sleep in a cage at night, the primary act that 
usually followed their liberation in the morning was the repairing of the little flock to 
their favourite top perch. After a brief interval, two of the males, a scarlet and a 
black-capped individual found themselves next door neighbours, and the ball, or more 
strictly speaking, the pas de deux 
began. As is de régle at such 
functions associated with human 
participants, there was a cere- 
monious preliminary interchange of 
courtesies, which was in itself a 
remarkable performance. Both 
birds, turning towards each other, 
would bring their beaks down nearly 
to the level of the perch, and while 
retaining them in this deflected 
position, vibrate their heads with 
great rapidity, at the same time 
W. Saville-Kent, del, 
eon acaie au uttering their somewhat plaintive 
