222 JUNGLE FOLK 



As to the nature of the companies. Colonel Cunningham 

 maintains that they are family parties. This view is, 

 however, untenable, unless we assume that the seven 

 sisters are polygamists or polyandrists, because three 

 or four is the normal number of eggs laid, so that if each 

 little gathering were a family party, it should consist 

 of not more than six members. The flocks are too 

 large to be made up of mother, father, and children, 

 and usually too small to be two such families. 



There is at present living in the compound of the 

 Allahabad Club a company consisting of, I think, eight 

 babblers. Seven are adults, and one is quite a child. 

 This last goes about with its elders, every now and again 

 flapping its wings, opening wide its yellow mouth, and 

 calling for food. A day or two ago it took up a position 

 within a few feet of my door, so that I was able to 

 watch it closely through the chik. I saw one of the 

 company come up with a grub in its bill, which it, 

 with due ceremony, put into the young bird's " yellow 

 lane." Having fed the youngster, it began rummaging 

 about in the grass near by. Shortly afterwards a second 

 babbler came up to the young one, bringing a cater- 

 pillar. This particular individual carried his (or her, 

 for I don't pretend to be able to sex a babbler at sight) 

 tail askew. That organ protruded from under the left 

 wing, instead of projecting between the wings, as is 

 usual with tails — babblers, Hke actors and artists, 

 affect a careless style of dress. Having delivered up 

 its caterpillar to the clamorous youngster, it hopped 

 away. I kept my eye carefully upon both it and the 

 bird I had first seen bring food. In a few seconds 



