170 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



its temporary home oq fairly big trees. As 

 this bird is spread over the plains in certain 

 seasons and moves to the hills as the sun 

 approfciches the Tropic of Cancer, it is no 

 wonder that different people have observed 

 it in different surroundings. Those who 

 have watched it in the hill-districts in sum- 

 mer would say that it is a denizen of heavy 

 jungles where it keeps to the more open 

 portions along the beds of streams near the 

 forest paths, or in bamboo jungles. Others, 

 who first made its acquaintance in other sea- 

 sons, would assert that it does not fight shy 

 of human environment altoo-ether • and there- 

 fore, it is not an unfamiliar sight in shady 

 gardens, bushy outskirts of villages or lone- 

 ly village bye-lanes. It hops sedately and 

 leisurely from branch to branch. In fact, 

 when undisturbed, its movements are slow, 

 measured and dig^nified. All this while, it 

 would indulge in gentle whistles, occasion- 

 ally throwing out a louder note of defiant 

 song. The approach of man puts an end to all 

 this. From a dignified philosopher, the bird 



