20 JUNGLE FOLK 



writes : " Deep ravines and earthy cliffs also attract 

 them, and thousands of pairs build yearly in that vast 

 network of ravines that fringes the courses of the 

 Jumna and Chambul from opposite Agra to Calpee. 

 Others nest in quarries, and I got several nests from 

 those in the neighbourhood of Futtehpoor Sikri." 



During the nesting season the brovvn rock-chat 

 knows not what fear is. Mr. R. M. Adam gives an 

 account of a pair which built a nest in a hole in a bath- 

 room wall. The birds did not appear to be frightened 

 by people entering and leaving the room. When the 

 first brood had been reared the hen laid a second 

 clutch of eggs, and, on these being taken, she immedi- 

 ately laid a third batch. Colonel Butler writes : " Dur- 

 ing the period of incubation both birds are extremely 

 pugnacious, and vigorously attack any small birds, 

 squirrels, rats, lizards, etc., that venture to approach 

 the nest." The tameness of the brown rock-chat, 

 together with his alluring ways and sweet song, make 

 him an exceptionally fascinating httle bird. 



