The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-29
Dnnnimg Birds.

From the London Daily News
OF all the interesting points on which
Mr.. Dixon touches in his 'Curiosites Of
Bird Life perhaps none is more remark
able than the strange antics in which some
birds indulge, especially at the pairing sea-
son. With what odd gestures will a
smartly dressed cock-sparrow, for in
stance, endeavor to cut a good figure in
the eyes of his demure and sober-tin ted
lady-love? With dropping wings, and tail
raised high in air, he shuhles along the
ground or sidles towards his mate as she
sits on the edge of the rain-pipe, while he
utters, instead Of bursts of soul-stirring
melody, strange. inarticulate sounds, in
tended, no doubt quite as honestly as the
noble music Of the song thrush to express
the depth and fervor of his passion.
To a similar performance, though with
more of dignity and action about 1t, the
blackjack treats his wives, for, unlike the
better-conducted though often much-cal-
animated sparrow, he is not Satisfied with
a single mate. One of the most charac-
terlstic of spring sounds on Exmoor, as
evening darkens, or still more, in the ear
ly hours of the morning.&is the challenge
of the blackjack. In tho month of April
he who is abroad early enough may watch
upon the russell slopes Of Dunkery. a little
party of blackjack at one of their recog-
nized and probably hancestral meeting
places by one of the little moorland
streams, or on the wet edge Of some
swampy hollow Each bird crouches on
a hillock, in the oldest Of atttudes-its
head down. It's wings a-droop its beauti-
full tail raised, and utters at intervals
strange, almost weird notes, some times
suggestive of the purr sof a turtle-dove,
and sometimes more like the cry Of cha
mois. Presently an Old cock, grand in his
new black coat, win get up and march
backwards and forwards with his neck
stretched out and his wings trailing on
the ground. Now he leaps into the air,
sometimes turning right round before he
alights, and now again he crouches close
upon his hillock. 1t Is said that in places
where black game are few a single cock
will go through all this by himself, or at
most with only his wives for witnesses
But if there are more cocks than one the
proceedings generally end with a fight
Where the birds are numerous the young
cocks, who are not allowed to enter the
arena with their elders, hold unauthoriz-
ed celebration of their own.
There are many birds which thus, like
higher mortals have their fits of madness
in the days of courlship But there are
some, such as the spur winged lapwing Of
La Plata, which are. like the lady in the
song, so fond of dancing, especially Of
what the natives call their serious dance,
meaning a square one that they indulge
in such performances all the year, not i'm
the daytime only but even on moonlight
nights. If" says Mr.. Hudson, who tells
the story. "a person watches any two
birds for some time--for they live in pairs
he will see another lapwing, one Of a
neighboEing couple rise up and fly to
them, leaving his own mate to guard their
chosen ground; and instead OF resenting
this visit as an unwarranted intrusion on
their domain. as they would certainly re-
sent the APPROACH Of almost any other bird.
they welcome it with notes and signs Of
pleasure Advancing to the visitor. they
place themselves behind It; then all three,
keeping step, begin a rapid march. utter