THE DOMESTIC LIFE OF THE 

 DABCHICK 



Even in Shakespeare's time the " didapper, 



peering through the wave," was not considered 



a bird whose acquaintance was easy of cultivation, 



and in spite of the tameness of these birds on 



the London park waters, one cannot always 



observe them even there. Consequently I feel 



that I have been unusually fortunate, during 



my life in India, in being for more than one 



season the spectator of the whole domestic life 



of a pair of these birds under quite remarkably 



favourable circumstances. I should premise that 



to all intents and purposes the Indian dabchick 



is the same as our bird in England, for although 



a distinguishable species, the points of difference 



it exhibits are not great, being merely smaller 



size, and a white patch on each wing formed 



by the secondary quills, which are of this colour ; 



this marking not being visible in repose. 



I arrived at such an excellent understanding 



with the dabchick couple in this way. In the 



grounds in which the Indian Museum stands 



there is a large tank of unusually clear water, 



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