180 



PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



the existence of its mate, it has lately begun 

 to take interest in her. March is drawinir 

 to a close as I am writing. The male 

 now-a-days has become gallant enough to 

 feed the female as if she were a baby. It 

 hops round the aviary in a very grave 

 manner, showing itself off to its partner 

 who is sitting silently under a hedge. It 



then slowly hops up to 



the female and stops at 



a little distance. Then 



it retreats and goes round behind the hen, 



stops there, and after a jaunty run round the 



aviary comes and stands again in front. Some- 



