The Song and Dance of the Long-Tailed Manakin, Chiroxiphia linearis

UPo a bare branch which overhung the trail at a distance of about four feet from the ground, two male 'Bailadors' were engaged in a 'song and dance' act that simply astounded me. The two birds were about a foot and a half apart, and were alternately jumping about two feet into the air and alighting exactly upon the spot whence they jumped. The time was as regular as clock-work, one bird jumping up the instant the other alighted, each bird accompanying himself to the tune of 'to-l-do--to-l-do--to-ld-do,' sounding the syllable 'to' as he crouched to spring, 'le' while in the air, and 'do' as he alighted." Thus did Charles C. Nutting