The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-08-17
hUMOaS OF BIRD LIFE.
Queer Things Laid at the Doors of the
Feathered Population OF the World.

r. Bowdler Sharpe in an article on
birds says that dancing is often in
dulged in by certain species of birds
and that the erection of arbors and
Fairgrounds forms a feature in the
lives of many of them.
The Argus pheasants, which live in
thick forests, are hard to catch. but are
caught by the Maylays on their dane
ing grounds.
MIR. Dawson tells US" says the
writer, that the Argus pheasants are
accustomed to live quite solitary, both
males and females, but the male has his
own drawing-room, of which he is ex-
cessively proud, and which he keeps
scrupulously clean. a patch of ground
Is cleared in the depths of the ever
green forests, where the bird lives. for
a space of six or eight yards square.
Nothing is allowed to remain on
it, and nothing but the bare
earth is seen. Every leaf or twig
that falls from the surrounding trees
is removed with care. Sometimes the
top of 4 hill in comparatively open jun
gle is cleared, and at other times the
dancing ground is chosen in some open
level spot-it may be in a dark. gloomy
ravine. entirely surrounded and shut in
by dense cane brakes and rank vegeta-
ton. These cleared spaces" says Mr..
Dawson, ARE undoubtedly used ds
dancing grounds, but personally have
never seen a bird dancing in them, but
l have always found the proprietor
either seated quietly or moving back
ward and forward slowly about them,
calling at short intervals. Except in
the morning and evening, when they
roam about to feed and drink, the
males are always to be found at home,
and they roost at night on some tree
hard by.
a curious bird is the Toledo or Bail
ador, which lives in Central America.
Here is Mr.. NuttinC's description of its
dance:
One day. when hunting through the
dense forest. the profound silence was
suddenly broken by the regularly
repeated note Of FL Bailador' and.
softly making my way toward the
spot whence the sound proceeded.
! witnessed one of the most remarkable
performances it has ever been my lot
10 see. Upon bare twig, which over
hung the trail at distance of about
four feet from the ground. two male
'Bajladors' were engaged in 4 song
and dance act that simply astonished
me. The two birds were about a foot
and a half apart, and were alternately
jumping about two feet in the air, and
alighting exactly upon the spot whence
they jumped. The time was as regular
As clocl1work, one bird jumping up the
instant the other alighted, each bird
accompanying himself to the tune of
'T0-le-do-to-e-do-t sounding
the syllable to as he crouched TO
spring. lie while in the air. and do as
he aighted. This performance was
kept mp without intermission for more
than a minute. when the birds sudden
y discovered that they had an audi
eRce, and made off The IGler.
PoLTrFSEss Is like pneumatic tire;
there isn't much in It, but il eases
many jolt in the journey Of lie
A PLEASANT disposition, Ike oil in
bicycle bearing, reduces friction and
prevents world OF wear and tear.
LIKE Z Link in bicycle chain. we
may not amount TO much individually.
but collectively we make the wheels go
around.
LIKE balls in 4 bearing, the lives ot
many Of US must be one continued
grind that others may enjoy them
selves
LIFE is like bicycle run: some
worry, fret and scorch along. and soon
reach the end, while others take 1t
easy and enjoy themselves Is they 60
DR.. ". +. Prather. in Farm Field
and Fireside,