58 The Oologists' Record, September i, 1922. 



WHAT EFFECT DOES THE ADVANCE OF CIVILIZATION 

 HAVE ON THE BREEDING HABITS OF BIRDS ? 



By Capt. C. R. S. Pitman, D.S.O., M.C., M.B.O.U. 



This is a very big subject, which I cannot hope to tackle except 

 from a hmited point of view, but a few of my observations and 

 experiences will probably prove of interest. Generalizing, it appears 

 that civilization attracts many species of the smaller passerines, and 

 at the same time drives away a large percentage of the raptores, 

 as well as some of the shyer game birds. Not only does it drive 

 them away, but in many cases it brings them onty too soon to the 

 verge of extinction. But it is principally from a breeding point of 

 view that I wish to discuss this question. 



Take India, for instance, a country in which I did much egg 

 collecting. In the small compound (garden) of one bungalow I have 

 taken the following nests and eggs :- — Astur badius, The Shikra ; 

 Elanus cceruJeus. Black-winged Kite ; Milviis govinda, Pariah Kite ; 

 Buteo , Buzzard ; Corvus splendens, House Crow ; 



PalcBornis torquaiiis, Rose-ringed Paroquet ; PalcBornis bengalensis , 

 Large Green Paroquet ; Coracias indicus, Indian Roller ; Acrido- 

 theres fristis, Common Mynah ; Strepfopelia decaoito, Indian Ring 

 Dove ; Strepfopelia cambaiensis, Little Brown Dove ; Merops viridis, 

 Little Green Bee-Eater ; Argya caudata, Common Babbler ; Argya 

 earli. Striated Babbler ; Pycnonotus leiicotis, White-cheeked Bulbul ; 

 Arachnechthra asiatica, Purple Sunbird. This is quite a collection 

 in itself — and why do all these birds come into the haunts of man to 

 breed, an operation which is usually regarded as bringing forth all 

 the sh^'est characteristics in creatures ? There must be a variety of 

 answers, and among them I find : {a) Suitability of nesting sites, 

 such as the great avenue trees for the Raptores and Crows, the 

 mud-walls for the Bee-Eaters, the palm scrub for the Babblers, 

 small trees and large shrubs for the Doves, the bungalows with their 

 myriads of holes for the IVIynahs and Paroquets, the ornamental 

 shrubs for the Bulbuls and Sunbirds, and so forth. [b] Food in 

 plenty and easy to obtain. First and foremost, if the smaller birds 

 come in, they will naturally be followed by the larges ones that prey 

 on them. Garbage and refuse attracts the Kites and Crows as well 

 as in a lesser degree the Buzzards. The Paroquets find fruit and 

 green food, seeds, etc., in unlimited quantities ; insects swarm. 



