i62 Birds seen in the Suburbs of Calcutta 



Salt Lakes near Calcutta, where rubbish is dumped, he expressed 

 surprise at the numbers of vultures gorged so that they were 

 unable to ^y. Hundreds of others were in the air. To show- the 

 rapidity with which these birds perform their ghastly duties, the 

 body of a dead horse was brought out for them. In about 

 twenty minutes the bones were all picked clean ! 



Other birds w^ere seen and heard ; but time and space only 

 permit of the mention of one. namely, the House Sparrow 

 (Passer doinesticus). He is just as confiding here as in Eng- 

 land, though less numerous. Probably on account of Crows 

 and other big birds which keep him in his place, he is neither so 

 mischievous nor so harmful to more useful birds, as he is in 

 England. The writer respects the Sparrow's confidence, by 

 allowing him to nest and rear his young inside the bungalow 

 unmolested. 



<-H^ 



Foreign Birds. 



THEIR ADAPTABILITY AND INDIVIDUALITY. 

 By J. A. Swan. 



[The following article, reprinted from " Bird Notes," February, 1902, 

 is so crammed with interest as to call for a second appearance, especially as 

 the vol. in which it appeared is now out of print. It will also serve to remind 

 present members that we are getting quite an old society now, and have quite 

 a lengthy past to be proud of ; also that such back vols, as yet remain in 

 print are well worth a place on the l)Ookshelves of our newer members. — Ed. 



To the thoughtful and studious aviculturist there are 

 few phases of bird-life more interesting and lovable than that of 

 the readiness of most of our foreign friends to adapt themselves 

 to the altered conditions under which they must necessarily live 

 in captivity, and the many distinct and charming little ways they 

 possess, which often enable us to recognise them when other 

 means fail, even when in the midst of a number of their fellows. 



Examples of most species of foreign birds have, at some 

 time or other, endured captivity, and in some instances they 

 have taken so kindly to the loss of freedom as to live with us for 

 a number of years, cases being on record in which they have 



