Music and Dancing in Nature. 269 



the wings up vertically and motionless ; others, 

 half open and vibrating rapidly, while still others 

 wave them up and down with a slow, measured 

 motion. 



In the ypecaha and jacana displays both sexes 

 take part. A stranger performance is that of the 

 spur-winged lapwing of the same region — a species 

 resembling the lapwing of Europe, but a third 

 larger, brighter coloured, and armed with spurs. 

 The lapwing display, called by the natives its 

 " dance," or " serious dance " — by which they mean 

 square dance — requires three birds for its per- 

 formance, and is, so far as I know, unique in this 

 respect. The birds are so fond of it that they 

 indulge in it all the year round, and at frequent 

 intervals during the day, also on moonlight nights. 

 If a person watches any two birds for some time — 

 for they live in pairs — he will see another lapwing, 

 one of a neighbouring couple, rise up and fly to 

 them, leaving his own mate to guard their chosen 

 ground ; and instead of resenting this visit as an 

 unwarranted intrusion on their domain, as they 

 would certainly resent the approach of almost any 

 other bird, they welcome it with notes and signs of 

 pleasure. Advancing to the visitor, they place 

 themselves behind it ; then all three, keeping step, 

 begin a rapid march, uttering resonant drumming 

 notes in time with their movements ; the notes of the 

 pair behind being emitted in a stream, like a drum- 

 roll, while the leader utters loud single notes at 

 regular intervals. The march ceases; the leader 

 elevates his wings and stands erect and motionless, 

 still uttering loud notes ; while the other two, with 



