18 HABITS AND HAUNTS OF BIRDS 
more or less plastered up after the female has entered, and the eggs are’ 
white. 
Parrots, (Paleornis, Loriculus ).—These occur throughout India 
some local, some widely spread, but all where they occur are 
permanent residents. They lay pure white eggs in holes in trees, 
generally they use a natural hollow, but sometimes they cut the entrance 
hole themselves, always choosing a tree decayed internally. The nest holes 
are often ata considerable height from the ground. They are gregari- 
ous when not breeding, and often a number of nests may be found in the 
same tree, They affect cultivation and open wooded country. 
Woodpeckers, (Picus, Hypopiens, Yungipicus, Hemicireus, Chry- 
socolaptes, Muelleripicus, Gecinus, Chrysophlegma, Venilia, Gecinulus, 
Micropternus, Brachypternus, Chrysonotus).—There are a great number 
of species in India. Only two species are widely spread, the yellow-fronted 
woodpecker ( Picus mahrattensis) and the common gold-back woodpeck- 
er (Brachypternus aurantius). The rest are local and confined to particular 
parts of India. They are as a rule only found in well-wooded districts. 
They all lay pure white eggs, and deposit them in holes in trees which 
they cut for themselves with a neat circular orifice.* The nest holes are 
always on the under-sides of boughs, or in perpendicular trunks to keep 
out rainwater. Woodpeckers are not migratory. They breed wherever 
they are found. 
Piculets, (Vivia, Sacia).—Only two species occur in India, and 
these are confined to the Himalayas. In habits they exactly resemble 
woodpeckers, and lay white eggs in artificial holes in trees, They are 
- not migatory. 
Wrynecks, ( Yunx).—One species, the common wryneck ( Y. tor- 
quila) is common in the plains in the cold weather, but it migrates in 
the spring. It issaid to breed in Kashmir, but no details are recorded, 
They nestle in holes in decayed trees and lay pure white eggs. 
Honey guides, (Jndicator).—One species is found though ex- 
tremely rarely, and nothing is known of its habits. 
Barbets, (Megalema, Xantholema).—Many species occur in India. 
They closely resemble woodpeckers in their habits, but they feed on fruit. 
They are non-migratory, breeding wherever they are found. They usual- 
ly inhabit forests or weli-wooded country, lay pure white eggs, and de- 
* Mr. Gammie has recently discovered that in Sikkim the bay woodpeckers (Miecropter- 
nus) make their nest holes in black ants’ nests attached to trees, a most remarkable fact. 
