180 COMMON BIRDS OF AN INDIAN GARDEN 



Calcutta, where all three abound, it is the tadi-trees 

 that are almost invariably chosen. In them the 

 nests are hung from the radiant fringes of points 

 that border the leaves crowning the long, slender 

 shafts of tall trees; and, owing to their pensile 

 nature and elevated situation, they must be ex- 

 ceptionally secure from the attacks of predatory 

 animals. Towards the beginning of the rainy season 

 the birds acquire their full breeding plumage, in 

 which bright yellow tints abound, and a little later 

 the nests are fully occupied. In the early part in 

 August, young birds, almost ready to fly, are often 

 exposed for sale in the bazaars, but, although readily 

 tamed, they are very undesirable additions to an 

 aviary containing other kinds of small birds, as 

 they are very aggressive, and are possessed by a 

 deeply-rooted desire to hammer in the skulls of 

 their neighbours, which, as Abdur Rahman in his 

 autobiography remarks of a Baluchi tribe of similar 

 disposition, " naturally causes disputes." 



Brown shrikes, Lanius cristatus, 1 are extremely 

 common around Calcutta throughout the greater 

 part of the year, and are conspicuous objects in 

 the gardens of the suburbs and outskirts of the 

 town. They come in suddenly and in great numbers 

 in September, usually during the ten days ranging 

 from the 12th to the 21st, but occasionally not 

 until some time in the fourth week. A record of 



1 In size they resemble common red-backed shrikes. 



