306 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



have no real grievance against it, and is 

 persistently attacked by the latter. Even 

 Bulbuls dislike it and raise a hubbub 

 at its approach, probably with a good 

 reason. 



The Koel or, as it is called in 

 Bengal, the Kokii is a very insistent 

 caller ; it calls at all times, by day and 

 by night, as also does the the Papiya ; 

 and we, in Bengal, hear it in most sea- 

 sons, even in winter. Generally it begins 

 as early as Eebruary to find its voice 

 which from March onwards works in full 

 swing and breaks in September and 

 then gradually ceases. Englishmen do not 

 like its music, which some characterise 

 as 'an introductory poem to Hades !' 

 But many of them have to admit that 

 *when heard sufficiently far off it is not un- 

 melodious. It has three distinct calls. One 

 is what Cunningham chooses to style its 

 'nest-note' or name-call, i.e., from which 

 it o'ets its name. This rises in a slow 

 crescendo and wlien the highest pitch has 



