COMMON BIRDS OF AN INDIAN GARDEN 



from a point near the projecting stump of a 

 branch at about twenty feet from the ground. 

 This was accordingly accurately focussed from a 

 place at a considerable distance; and, after a 

 weary pause of a quarter of an hour, one of the 

 birds came into the tree, cautiously approached to 

 the stump, and at last flew directly to it, and in a 

 moment vanished into a small round opening on 

 its sloping, lower surface (Plate VI.). A couple of 

 minutes elapsed, then a head was seen cautiously 

 looking out of the opening, and presently thrust out 

 to take a careful survey of the neighbourhood. 

 The result seemed to be satisfactory, as the bird 

 suddenly darted out and went off across the 

 garden like a streak of green light. An attempt 

 at closer examination of the nest by climbing up 

 the tangled network of aerial roots around the 

 stem of the tree was very speedily put a stop to 

 by swarms of stinging ants, Sima rufonigra, who 

 were running about over the bark and resented 

 the intrusion on their thoroughfare in a fashion 

 that made it desirable to drop to the ground 

 without delay. The presence of the ants must 

 have been a great protection to the nest, but it is 

 curious that its owners should seemingly have 

 escaped all molestation from them as they went in 

 and out. 



The vigour with which the birds work affords 

 a real mental tonic by showing that hard work can 



