l:V2 CAR DEN AND AVIAIJY BTRDS. 



• juitr iiii(>l»tiiisivo. (►hjcct. Out Ainoiirnii wiutcr-visitois 

 have iicatlv expressed the contrast iii tlie (lyiii!^ and 

 siMiiiLT l>lue-.]ay l)y calling' it the '' surprise-bird *": but 

 tliis name would even better fit the Paddy-bird or Poud- 

 ner(»ii {.\i(lrt)Ui qr(uji)\\\\\A\ is hard to see at all in repose 

 and pure white when it Hies. This Pvoller is found almost 

 all over India and Ceylon in the plains, and extends 

 westwards alonu the Persian Gulf, and even occasionally 

 as far as Asia Miiioi'. It likes open count ly. and always 

 chooses a perch which .uives it a ,L!;ood outlook, very often 

 a telejiraph wire, where it lemains quite comfortably 

 even in the broilin.i^ sun of mid-day. It may sometimes 

 be seen sittini; on the ,i;Toimd, or even hopphiu a few steps, 

 bnt as a rule it (^dy comes down to pick up somethin,Li 

 to eat. It is very a^^tive on the win^ when it likes, in 

 spite of the apparent listlessness of its o'-djuary fliirht. 

 Its note is a single croak., varied occasionally l)y a cackling 

 lau^^'h. 



It breeds at various times, accoidiuu to locality, duiiu'j; 

 the first half of the year, and will often use a hole i>i a 

 lJuildin«,^ Some birds line the nest with urass or ra^s, 

 etc., but others eschew bedding altogether. The youuLi; 

 birds look very pretty when covered with feathers, and 

 can be easilv roared on bits of raw meat, coclcroaches, etc., 

 but 1 cannot reconinieud them as iuterestin<> pets, as 

 they are not musical and very sluLit^ish in their habits. 

 If a bird were trained to (ly freely about the garden it 

 would be a iiic<' jict. bnt the lihu^-.lay must, have ro(<m 

 and reason to show its wings if lie is to l)e admired. Old 

 ])irds can be got to feed in captivity by putting them 



