278 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



iog song, the birds of the family Fringi- 

 llidae alone can give the lie to the 

 theory. Many species in this family com- 

 bine vocal and artistic charms, proving 

 that, to quote Selous, ''there is necessary 

 antagonism between the one and the 

 other." 



The Tuti nests in remote mountain 

 regions far away from civilisation. Its 



nests and eggs have been collect- 

 Nests and ^^ throucch the enterprise of 



the Europeans. It fixes up its 

 nest either in the fork of a low bush 

 among stems of coarse grass in scrub- 

 jungles, or amongst climbing plants within 

 a foot of the ground. Sufficient informa- 

 tion about the architectural design of the 

 nest is not available. The few nests 

 discovered were neat and rather deep 

 cup-shaped structures of grass, lined only 

 with finer roots and stems. Sometimes 

 a good deal of hair is used as lining. 

 It seems that the Tuti regards hair 

 as a desirable material for upholstery 



