118 COMMON BIRDS OF AN INDIAN GARDEN 



images, whilst animals of much higher intelligence, 

 such as dogs, seem to have so little natural aptitude for 

 doing so. Dayals, however, make up for any slight 

 want of confidence by the distinction and grace of 

 their sprightly habits. Like European robins, they 

 are very pugnacious little beings, and many fierce 

 duels take place among the males during the pairing 

 and nesting seasons. Some of the conflicts that 

 precede marriage seem to point to no very highly 

 developed aesthetic sense in the male birds, as violent 

 feuds may often be seen to rage over very dowdy and, 

 as one would fancy, unattractive females. Whilst a 

 pair of rivals are contending for the favour of a lady, 

 they make a brave show of all their attractions, 

 spreading their tails and partially expanding their 

 wings so as to display their brilliant black and white 

 markings to the fullest advantage, nodding their 

 heads, and singing loudly and defiantly at one 

 another. When once paired they seem to be very 

 faithful and affectionate, and at all times of year 

 whenever one bird makes its appearance it is pretty 

 certain that its mate is not far off. 



They breed during the hot- weather months, and 

 usually place their nests in hollows in trees. In most 

 large gardens, several pairs will be found nesting 

 every year, each of them having a certain, well-defined 

 territory of its own, and furiously resenting the 

 intrusion of neighbouring couples. They are very 

 methodical in their habits at all times of year, and 



