ACTIONS OF ANIMALS 69 



popularly ascribed to them. My object is not to argue, 

 but to record some instances showing how liable we 

 are to misinterpret animal actions. 



Some time ago, while walking near the golf-links at 

 Lahore, I noticed a rat-bird, or common babbler (Argya 

 caudata, to give it its proper name), with a green cater- 

 pillar hanging from its beak. The succulent insect was, 

 of course, intended for a young bird in a nest near by. 

 Being in no hurry, I determined to find that nest. 

 Under such circumstances, the easiest way is to sit 

 down and wait for the parent bird to indicate the 

 position of the nursery. The bird with the caterpillar 

 had seen me, so, instead of flying with it to the nest, 

 moved about from bush to bush uttering his or her note 

 of anger (I do not pretend to be able to distinguish a 

 cock from a hen rat-bird). In a few minutes the other 

 parent appeared on the scene, also with something in 

 its beak. Observing that all was not well, it too began 

 to " beat about the bush," or rather from one bush to 

 another. Meanwhile, both swore at the ungentlemanly 

 intruder. However, I had no intention of moving 

 on before I fomid that nest. After a little time the 

 patience of the second bird became exhausted ; it flew 

 to a small bush, into which it disappeared, to reappear 

 almost immediately with an empty beak. I immedi- 

 ately advanced on that bush, of which the top was not 

 three feet above the ground. In the bush I found a 

 neatly constructed, cup-shaped nest, which contained 

 five young rat-birds. I handled these, taking one 

 ugly, naked fellow in my hand in full view of the 

 parents, who were swearing like bargees. I was careful 



