The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-16

about the birds going away south. hoping 70
learn something 10 indicate whether or no,
South American birds visit the unknown re.
Rlons OF the Antarctic continent. but the people
down there had never been interested in such
subjects as bird migration. In fact, I am con-
scious that such subjects as digging gold and
raising sheep are Of interest to many more PEG.
pie than anything that can be said Of birds, un-
less II be the market value Of bird skins.
However, there are some doings among Pata-
gonia birds stlll to be considered, because they
are strange as we'll as beautiful. For Instance,
there Is a spur-winged lapwing that dances W THAT
Spanish-Americans call a serious dance, such a
dance as a quadrille.
THE birds are 80 fond Of II, says one who has
seen the dance often, that they indulge in It all
the year round, and at frequent intervals during
the day, also on moonlight nights. II a person
watches any two birds for some time-for they
live in pairs he will see another lapwing, one Of
a neighboring couple, rise up and fly to them,
leaving his own mate To guard their chosen
ground and instead OF resenting this visit as nm
unwarranted intrusion on their domain,
as they would certainly resent the APP
proach OF almost any other bird. they
welcome IL with notes and signs OF pleasure.
Advancing to the visitor, they place themselves
behind Il; then all three. keeping step. begin a
rapid march, uttering resonant drumming notes
In time with their movements. the notes of the
pair behind coming In a stream like n drum roll,
while the leader utters loud single notes at regu-
lar intervals. Then the march ceases: the
leader elevates his wings and stands erect and
motionless, still uttering loud notes. while the
other two. with pulled out plumage and stand
ing exactly abreast, stoop forward and down.
ward until the tips OF their beaks touch the
ground. and. sinking their rhythmical voices to
a murmur remain in this posture"
That ends the performance. One kind Of the
rails has a different gathering. IL is a long
legged bird, with a body as big as the ordinary
b~arnyard hen. These birds always have a dane
Ing platform In the shape Of a smooth piece OF
ground, well concealed in the tall grass or reeds
near the water they frequent. The invitation
for the dance is a loud cry repeated three times
in succession by one bird. They nre a fun-lov-
ing race. and instantly gather at their old resort
when the call is heard. The moment they reach
the open ground they spread their wings, ele-
vate their heads, and open their mouths. Then
with vibrating wings and yells as Of lost spirits
they rush from side to side. From piercing
shrieks their voices descend to means and cries
that sound like human beings In mortal pain,
and then once more screams of anguish arise.
1t is the song and dance OF the rail. but the per-
formance sounds like the voices of men and
otANh IA nv anu u NIith
The black-faced ibises mentioned by Darwin
as a common species at Port Desire have a most
remarkable song and dance. so to speak. in mid
air. As they fly along toward the roosting place
shutdown they will, without warning. dash
themselves toward the ground, twisting and gy-
about In all directions, to rise again in
like frenzied fashion. while they scream in
widest glee, albeit their voices are anything but
gleeful to a human being.
On the lagoons south OF the Rio Gallegos Is
found n kind Of a duck that has q curious per-
ormance in the air, also. The birds. in small
focks rise to n great height and then divide into
two lines, which alternately separate and come
while all whistle and call In the hap
piest manner. As the two Lines close up together
they strike each other with their wings with a
sound something like the ~spatting OF hands at q
minstrel Jig. The performance may last an
The Gauchos speak OF these birds as SOL
der ducks, but Hudson in his Naturalist in
La Plata " desc !ibes the same doings, and calls
The bird the whistling widgeon.
There Is a little brown bird living on the
desert that has a fashion of gathering its family
tho young are full grown for a singing
Mounting the highest twig Of a bush
L gives a curious little cry and then the rest
about It and all begin to scream like
hysnas. W q
Curious as It may seem, this arid desert is the
not only Of screaming and dancing birds,
but also of the sweetest songster In the world.
was In the region at the wrong season to see
he birds to the best advantage. but no one need
ihink the description OF the Patagonia hooking
is exaggerated by Hudson, because even