270 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



plains begin to depart in the latter 

 month, and in May the last bird has 

 left the plains. Hume and Henderson, 

 during their famous expedition, found 

 the birds breeding in Kashmir and 

 Ladak in the months of June and July. 

 And, during their return journey in 

 September, they failed to notice a single 

 bird in those regions. At this time of 

 the year, these bright scarlet birds 

 appear for a few days in those nor- 

 thern districts of the Punjab, U. P. , 

 and Bengal which are immediately to 

 the south of the Himalayas. 



The Tuti is a ojregjarious bird, and no 

 wonder. It has to cross hundreds of 

 miles over unknown countries 

 Notes twice every year. Such jour- 



neys are not possible for soli- 

 tary birds and Nature therefore has or- 

 dained that migratory birds should live 

 in flocks. The Tuti is not only small 

 in size but is wantino* in couraQ-e which 

 one naturally expects in a bird which makes. 



