150 COMMON BIRDS OF AN INDIAN GARDEN 



their speed and capacity for sudden change of 

 direction. 



During the greater part of the year king- crows 

 are very aggressive, and whilst nesting they are almost 

 ceaselessly on the war-path. For a short time, 

 however, in the earlier part of the cold weather, and 

 probably because they are then moulting, they often 

 become curiously mild a fact of which the crows 

 seem to be fully aware, as they may then be often 

 seen venturing on liberties which they certainly 

 would not attempt at other times, and which some- 

 times verge on positive bullying. Although they 

 seem to have a very special and well-founded dislike 

 to crows, they by no means confine their attacks 

 to them, and during the nesting season there is 

 hardly any kind of bird, no matter how inoffensive 

 or how formidable it may be, that is exempt from 

 assault and battery. Kites and hawks are fallen 

 upon, ignominiously routed and driven off in dis- 

 orderly flight, staggering under the influence of 

 violent blows on the back ; the spotted owlets 

 are apt to have their evening gossip rudely inter- 

 rupted ; every passing crow is insulted, and any 

 stray barn owl, who may have ventured out early in 

 the evening, or have been delayed in returning 

 home in the morning, is sure to be detected and 

 hustled ; and even birds that might have been 

 deemed quite harmless, such as mynas and king- 

 fishers, are furiously attacked. The spotted owlets 



