26 GLIMPSES OF INDIAN BIRDS 



of interjections. Such a language, while very expres- 

 sive as far as it goes, does not go very far. And the 

 question naturally arises, does it go sufficiently far to 

 meet the needs of the various species, or have they 

 some means of communicating with one another other 

 than by sounds ? It is very tempting to believe that 

 they have, that they are able to transmit thought to 

 one another in some way. It is only on the assump- 

 tion of brain waves that one can explain the soldier- 

 like evolutions which flocks of birds sometimes per- 

 form in the air. 



I have often wondered how those species of birds, 

 of which both the cock and hen take part in the nest- 

 building operations, select the site. The matter is, of 

 course, simple when only the one sex constructs the 

 nest. But how is the site selected when both sexes 

 build ? It is tempting to believe that they discuss the 

 matter, that the hen says to the cock, " Now, James, 

 my dear, it is necessary for us to build a nest without 

 delay : come, let us select a secluded spot wherein to 

 build " ; and to picture the little birds hunting about 

 together and criticising the sites each selects. Never- 

 theless, I think it most unlikely that any such discus- 

 sion takes place. Nest building is largely instinctive. 

 In the case of the first nest it is improbable that the 

 little builders quite know what they are doing, and I 

 do not see how, before the nest is begun, they can have 

 any idea of what it will look like when it is finished. 



It is possible that birds agree as to the site without 

 any discussion or without any communication. Let 

 us suppose that a pair of bulbuls have mated. Sud- 



