THE COMMON "BIRDS OF THE 

 NILGIRIS 



The avifauna of the Nilgiris is considerably 

 smaller than that of the Himalayas. This 

 phenomenon is easily explained. The Nil- 

 giris occupy a far less extensive area ; they 

 display less diversity of climate and scenery; 

 the lofty peaks, covered with eternal snow, 

 which form the most conspicuous feature of 

 the Himalayan landscape, are wanting in the 

 Nilgiris. 



The birds found in and about a Nilgiri hill 

 station differ in character from those of the 

 plains distant but a score of miles. 



Of the common birds of the plains of Madras, 

 the only ones that are really abundant on the 

 Nilgiris are the black crow, the sparrow, the 

 white-eye, the Madras bulbul, the myna, the 

 purple sunbird, the tailor-bird, the ashy wren- 

 warbler, the rufous-backed shrike, the white- 

 browed fantail flycatcher, the Indian pipit, the 

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