230 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



train with greater grace". The food of 

 the Bhimraj consists of large bees and 

 wasps, locusts and dragon-flies. Lizards 

 and rats also occasionally form its menu. 

 It is always restless, flying from branch 

 to branch, jerking up the tail and mak- 

 ing frequent plunges for insects from its 

 elevated position. Between these move- 

 ments, it is repeatedly calling to its 

 mate who is ensrao^ed in similar activities 

 ill a tree close by. 



Its notes deserve mention, though it 

 is difficult to hit off an exact description 

 in a few words ; for it can produce an 

 immense variety of sounds from lass to 

 soprano, some of which are beautifully 

 clear and melodious. Oates gives it the 

 premier place among the song-birds of 

 India. Its general note is a deep sonorous 

 cry like tse-rimgi tse-rung, tse-rimg. Jer- 

 don describes it as ^'consisting of two parts, 

 the first, a sort of harsh chuckle ending 

 in a peculiar metallic sound, something 

 like the creaking of a heavy wheel." It 



