176 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



September Mh. — Got to same place about 6 p.m., and counted 

 fifty-one birds standing or sitting about within the limits of the 

 sandy amphitheatre in a scattered proximity. Watching through 

 the glasses, I saw one bird advance quickly towards another (com- 

 batively, as I thought), and, when just in front of it, wave and 

 flourish with its wings. Then, however, the same bird, turning, 

 moved a step or two away from the one it had seemed to 

 challenge,* and crouched on the ground in a manner not at all 

 suggestive of combative inclinations.! Shortly afterwards either 

 this same or another bird (but I think the same one) ran pug- 

 naciously at another, and both then stood with outstretched wings 

 and heads craned forwards (the tips of the beaks seeming almost 

 to touch each other), apparently on the point of engaging in 

 combat. They did not do so, however, but in a moment or so 

 paced away from each other, and stood indifferent. 



As it grew towards twilight I again noticed the sudden little 

 rushings of the birds, accompanied with wavings of the wings, 

 and this became much more frequent as the twilight deepened. 

 At length, by fits and starts — now one and now another, so that 

 there were generally several at a time in different parts of the 

 amphitheatre — the whole troop of birds were thus occupied, and 

 it became an interesting spectacle. I watched as long as I could 

 through the glasses, and, when no longer able to use them, very 

 luckily two birds came quite near me, so that, although now semi- 

 dark, I could see them well with the naked eye. Watching the 

 whole time as closely as possible, I endeavoured to make out the 

 meaning of this wing-waving, and it appeared to me that it was 

 in connection with the chase of flying insects, sometimes (as I 

 observed and feel sure about) in aid of a jump into the air after 

 one, at other times owing, as it seemed, to excitement merely — 

 the excitement (and I think the social excitement) of the chase. 

 But that it occurred in and as a part of the pursuit of game 

 (insects) I could not doubt after what I had seen three nights ago. 

 I noted that when one bird ran and waved his wings another 



* The actions of the challenged bird I did not note at the time, and 

 cannot recall, though I think they were similar. Do what one will, a certain 

 amount will be seen and forgotten, or but dimly recalled. 



f The bird appeared to me to elevate the tail and posterior part of the 

 body generally. 



