Music and Dancing in Nature. 267 



note of invitation, quickly responded to by other 

 birds from all sides as they hurriedly repair to the 

 usual place. In a few moments they appear, to the 

 number of a dozen or twenty, bursting from the 

 rushes and running into the open space, and 

 instantly beginning the performance. This is a 

 tremendous screaming concert. The screams they 

 utter have a certain resemblance to the human 



Dance of Ypeealia Rails. 



voice, exerted to its utmost pitch and expressive 

 of extreme terror, frenzy, and despair. A long, 

 piercing shriek, astonishing for its vehemence and 

 power, is succeeded by a lower note, as if in the 

 first the creature had well nigh exhausted itself : 

 this double scream is repeated several times, and 

 followed by other sounds, resembling, as they rise 

 and fall, half smothered cries of pains and moans 

 of anguish. Suddenly the unearthly shrieks are 



