LEAVES FROM AN APRIL JOURNAL. 47 



head moves so quickly up and down, that it is only 

 at the beginning and the ending of the perform- 

 ance that any motion is perceived, although the 

 ear readily catches each rapidly repeated tap. By 

 this drumming he appears to reach the climax of 

 passionate excitement and fine frenzy. Then he 

 rests awhile as if the operation was painful and 

 he feared a concussion of the brain. The battles of 

 rival males, considering how well armed they are, 

 appear to be the most insipid affairs. Their actions 

 are exceedingly whimsical and fantastic, as if they 

 had tapped, and tarried too long at a wine cask. 

 Here two tipsy fellows have been clinging to an 

 oak trunk for five minutes or more, uttering sub- 

 dued "peops," and keeping the trunk between 

 them as if one was afraid and the other dared not 

 engage in combat. Doubtless the female from 

 some tree has witnessed this odd proceeding, for 

 one lopes through the branches, to an elm in the 

 field, and is immediately followed by these sham 

 duelists, that are now more animated in their 

 manifestations. They di'oop their wings and 

 spread their pointed tail-feathers like fans; they 

 alight on the ground and confront each other, 

 holding up their sharp bills, as fencers would their 

 rapiers before they begin to thrust and parry; 



