CH IP. XXIII. 



SOME OTHER ANIMALS. 



223 



also vary to some extent indifferent districts in accordance with 

 the relative abundance of particular kinds of food ; at Coimbatore, 

 for example, the Common Mynah is much more of a grasshopper- 

 hunter than in Bihar, because the countrj is more open and there 

 are few fig-trees to provide the fruit on which this bird feeds larj 

 in Bihar. 



Amongst the commoner and most beneficial birds we may in- 

 clude the Drongo, Blur fay, Hoopoe, Babblers, Orioles, Mynahs, 



Tree Pie, Gre} Tit, Wagtails/Wood- 

 peckers, Nightjars, Crow-pheasant, 

 Spotted Owlet and most owls, Com- 

 mon Pariah Kite, Cattle Egret, 

 and perhaps Crows. Amongst the 

 injurious birds we may mention 

 especially Parroquets, Barbets. Bee- 

 eaters, and the House-sparrow. 



The Drongo or King-crow 

 (Dicrurus ater) occurs commonly 

 throughout Madras and is exclu- 

 sively insectivorous, the larger 

 proportion of the insects eaten 

 being of specious injurious to crop-. 

 It is fond of resting on any con- 

 venient perch from which it can 

 swoop down on its prey and perches 

 may therefore be placed in open 

 fields to encourage and attract this 

 bird. 

 The Blue Jay or Indian Roller (Coracias indica) is commonly 

 distributed throughout the Plains, preferring localities which are 

 thickly wooded. It feeds mostly on insects, which are largely 

 oppers ami caterpillars, occasionally on larger animals such 

 ,1- mice "i frogs. This is a most useful bird which deserves every 

 possible protection, especially in the vicinity of towns and 

 ments where it is too often shot on account of its gaudy plumage. 



The Hoopoe '{'pupil indica) occurs throughout Madras but is not 

 very common as a rule. It feeds almost exclusively on ins- 

 which the greater part are destructive species. The Hoopoe is 

 therefore extremely beneficial from an agricultural viewpoint and 

 deserves protection throughout the year, but especially during the 

 nesting-season, when the young are fed almost entirely on insect 

 larvae. This bird is particularly useful because its long beak en- 

 ables it to destroy numbers of in- distance underground 

 where the> are out of reach of other enemies. 



1 '. — The Kin 



(Dicrurus ater). (< Original.) 



