203



list of all the species (270 in number) known to have visited

the county.



BIRD NOTES.



In a very interesting article, published in the Field of May 17th last,

Mr. Dalgliesli describes the birds to be met with in an Indian garden. The

commonest bird is the blouse Crow ( Corvus splendens) which, although the

tamest of birds is also the wariest. “Provided you have not a gun,” Mr.

Dalgliesli writes, “ he will let you approach within a few yards of him ; but

at the sight of a gun he is off at once, and, as they say of the Rook, he

seems to smell powder.”


The Indian Magpie ( Dendrocitta rufa) is also common, and a great

nuisance in a garden, as 110 vegetable or fruit is safe while he is about.

Mynahs of four kinds are common, namely the Common Mynah ( Acri-

dotheres tristis), the Pied Mynah ( Sturnopastor contra ), the Grey-headed, or

Malabar Mynah ( Sturnia tnalabarica), and the Black-headed Mynah ( Sturnia

pagodarum). Orioles of two kinds (O. melatiocephalus and O. kundoo) are to

be seen. “The two species,” Mr. Dalgliesh tells us, “build beautiful

hammock-shaped nests, suspended, as a rule, between two branches.”

The Crimson-breasted Barbet ( Xantholcema fuemacephala) has a monotonous

note which resembles the sound of someone beating a copper, hence it is

known amongst Anglo-Indians as the “ Coppersmith.”


The Hawk Cuckoo ( Megalcema caniceps ), an exceedingly common

bird about Bengal, is known as the “ brain-fever bird,” from its note,

which is supposed to resemble the word “brain-fever.” The Indian Koel

(Eudynamys honorata), another bird of the Cuckoo tribe, lays its eggs in

the nest of the House Crow.


A colony of Spotted Owlets ( Athene bratna) haunt the garden of which

Mr. Dalgliesh writes, and one of these birds, which had a nest near, took a

violent dislike to the owner of the house, and would swoop down at him if

he went anywhere near the nest, and on one occasion actually took off his

cap. _



Two species of Bulbuls, the Red-vented and Red-eared, and the

Magpie Robin, better known to aviculturists as the Dhyal Bird, have been

noticed in the garden.


The Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiatica ), the Indian Roller (Coracias

indica), the Indian Nightjar ( Capritnulgus asiaticus), a Fruit Pigeon ( Croc opus

phcenicopterns), and three species of Turtle Doves, are also frequent visitors

to the garden, as is also the Black Drongo, or King Crow (Buchanga atra).

This latter is one of the most quarrelsome of birds, and always ready to

fight when opportunity occurs. When the fruit is ripe both the Rose¬

winged and Blossom-headed Parrakeets arrive to take toll. Hoopoes, both

of the common and Indian species, are of frequent occurrence; and the

White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornispkcenicura) is met with on the ponds,

or, in the early mornings, searching for worms in the vegetable gardens.



