160 COMMON BIRDS OF AN INDIAN GARDEN 



gardens, the outskirts of woods, and other waterless 

 places, so long as they provide trees or other con- 

 venient perches and commanding outlooks. They 

 are very noisy birds ; every now and then, whilst 

 resting, they open their great red beaks and cry 

 aloud, "Whee, hee, hee, hee, ee," and, on taking 

 flight on any sudden alarm, they utter a torrent 

 of rattling shrieks, much like those of the common 

 gold-backed woodpecker. Even whilst on the wing 

 they are not silent, but continue to repeat a high- 

 pitched note at brief intervals. On the onset of 

 the breeding season in the beginning of summer, 

 they become still more vociferous, and are constantly 

 to be heard crying aloud from the tops of lofty 

 trees. The sexual displays of the male birds at 

 this time, more especially when several of them 

 happen to be courting the same female, are really 

 splendid, while they turn their backs to her, crouch 

 down, nod their heads, and spread and flutter their 

 magnificent blue and black wings in eager competi- 

 tion. As a rule, the ladies seem to take all this 

 show very calmly, only occasionally flirting a little 

 with one or other of their admirers ; never dreaming 

 of interrupting any meal that may be in progress 

 when the entertainment comes off, and, even in 

 the very midst of it, always keeping an eye open 

 to the approach of any succulent insect. Their nest- 

 ing burrows are usually excavated in the steep banks 

 of ponds, and especially at points where the exposed 



