278 
BIRD-LIFE. 
performer. In this manner three different birds went 
through their terpsichorean exercises, each proudly 
retiring in turn to its place amongst the spectators, who 
had settled on the low bushes near the theatre of 
operations. We counted ten males and two females in 
the flock. The noise caused by my inadvertently treading 
on a stick, unfortunately raised an alarm, when the whole 
company of dancers immediately flew off! 
“ The Indians, who place great value on their beautiful 
skins, eagerly seek out these ‘playing-grounds,’ and, armed 
with their blow-tubes and poisoned arrows, lie in wait 
for the dancers. The hunter does not attempt to use his 
weapon until the company is quite engrossed in the 
performance, when the birds become so preoccupied with 
their amusement, that four or five are often killed before 
the survivors detect the danger and decamp.” 
Just as energetic, though, possibly, not such accom¬ 
plished performers, are to be found among other families. 
All Cranes practise the noble art with great enthusiasm. 
The Balearic Crane performs a very elegant “pas seul” 
before his mistress in pairing time. This bird, it is true, 
moves also at other times with a springing, dancing 
step, when it sees anything that particularly pleases it; 
this step does not, however, bear comparison with its 
“play.” The Bower Bird of Australia (Ptilonorhynchus 
holosericeus ) constructs the most ingenious arbours amid 
the long grass, wherein to dance before his spouse, an 
honour he pays her even when she is sitting on her nest, 
which is situated at the further end of the passage. The 
sociable and intelligent Ibis seats himself on his tarsi 
before the object of his affections, and “pops the 
question” amid a profusion of bows and chattering. The 
Snipe skims in circles around his lady-love, uttering the 
