io The Partridge Family 



ter just past? He will see to it, and at once! 

 « Bob — White ! Bob-bob —White — Bob — Whi- 

 ite ! ! " Each cry is louder and sharper than 

 its predecessor, the last " Whi-ite " being shaken 

 with anger. And ever, like an echo, comes the 

 reply, for the rival is as audacious and passionate 

 as our doughty hero, and quite as ready to break 

 a lance when bright eyes are willing to behold 

 brave deeds. From the long-distance hurling of 

 defiances the dispute gradually progresses to a 

 tempestuous interchange of musical incivilities 

 at short range. The pygmy warriors are comi- 

 cally in earnest. Each puffs himself up and 

 struts about as though fairly bursting with rage, 

 and there is much raising of crests, cocking of 

 heads, and short racings this way and that. One 

 runs to the top of an old ant-hill, and from this 

 coign of vantage fairly shouts his desire for deadly 

 combat ; the other springs upon a fallen log and 

 makes the air ring with requests for gore. Fi- 

 nally, they both reach an open space and catch 

 sight of each other. Then there is a funny little 

 fight, but a furious one while it lasts. They fight 

 after the manner of small game chickens, but the 

 action is much faster, and there is considerable 

 savage biting and tenacious hanging-on by the 

 short, strong bills. Feathers are pulled and 

 broken, heads are pecked until a trace of blood 

 appears, there is much cuffing by whirring wings 



