76 GLIMPSES OF INDIAN BIRDS 



remaining in the Himalayas, where they nidificate at 

 altitudes of 10,000 feet and upwards. 



The nest is a neat cup-shaped structure made of 

 grass with a lining of fine material. It is usually built 

 within a yard of the ground, in a bush, or even among 

 long grass. The eggs are blue with chocolate or purple 

 markings, which may be sparse or numerous, and may 

 take the form of blotches, freckles, or pencillings. 



The cock rose-finch, or Tuti, as he is always called 

 by the natives of India, is a handsome bird. The head 

 and neck are dull crimson, the lower parts are rosy pink 

 and the wings are brown. The rose-finches seen in the 

 early part of the winter are considerably less brightly 

 coloured than those observed after Christmas. This 

 phenomenon is due to two causes. The one is that the 

 bird moults in September or October and dons a new 

 suit of clothes. These are of such excellent material 

 that they improve by wearing ! As is so often the 

 case, the margins of the new feathers are duller than 

 the inner portion. A bird's feathers overlap like the 

 tiles on a roof, and they overlap to such an extent that 

 only the margin of each feather shows. As the dull 

 edges wear away, the brighter parts begin to show, 

 hence the gradual transition from dullness to bright- 

 ness. Further, the actual colouring of the feathers 

 becomes intensified as the spring season approaches. 

 But in the plains of India the cock is never seen in 

 the full glory of his crimson tunic, because he departs 

 to high altitudes at the breeding season. 



The hen rose-finch is an olive-brown bird with a 

 tinge of yellow and some brown streaks in her plumage. 



