314 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



In India there is perhaps not a more 

 common cage-bird than the Koel. As 

 with the Tuti, the food pro- 

 Cage-life blem of the Koel is not a 

 problem at all. Boiled rice in 

 milk with a few bananas is all that is 

 required to satisfy its taste and keep 

 it in health. Being as inexpensive to 

 keep as the bird described in the last 

 chapter, it has a favoured place in the 

 home of the poorest of the poor. Though 

 a favourite of the proletariat, the doors 

 of the rich are not closed on it. Its 

 presence is welcome everywhere. 



Indians do not generally catch adult 

 birds for caging them. They know from 

 experience that such birds refuse to 

 reciprocate the kind attentions of the 

 keeper, and most of them pine away in a 

 short while. Therefore nestlings are pre- 

 ferred almost in all cases, as they grow 

 up into very confiding pets. The Koel fed 

 on Satoo pulp developes into a very bold 

 and faithful creature. Young Koels re- 



