152 COMMON BIRDS OF AN INDIAN GARDEN 



the impulse to snatch at passing insects, not with 

 any serious intent at capture, but merely as the 

 outcome of reflex, or " to keep their hands in " ; and 

 many of the mutilated butterflies that are to be seen 

 staggering about on imperfect wings owe their 

 crippled condition to such passing encounters. 

 They seldom come to the ground in pursuit of 

 insects, and when they do so, sit about in curiously 

 flattened attitudes, like those of goat-suckers in like 

 circumstances. Now and then a pair will remain 

 for a long time, sitting on the ground face to face, 

 with upraised beaks and occasionally, either alternately 

 or in concert, uttering their harshly grating cries. 

 Much oftener they make sudden descents on the 

 surfaces of ponds either to take a skimming drink 

 or to pick up insects floating or swimming on the 

 water. They take their baths in like fashion, only 

 in this case they skim along over the surface, 

 dashing and dumping their breasts into the water as 

 they go, and returning again and again to repeat the 

 process until their plumage is well wetted and they 

 betake themselves to a neighbouring tree in order 

 to complete their toilette. Like most other purely 

 insectivorous birds, they keep their heads in almost 

 ceaseless motion, turning them from side to side and 

 glancing needfully around even when they seem to 

 be resting. 



In the neighbourhood of Calcutta the common 

 king- crows build at any time from the beginning of 



