188 COMMON BIRDS OF AN INDIAN GARDEN 



" ku ku kee," repeated at intervals of about half a 

 minute's duration, but often it is somewhat modified, 

 and then they will cry, " Kee ku kuku," or " Kuku 

 kee," with great emphasis on the final syllable, or 

 " Kuku kee ku," or one of a pair will go on saying, 

 " Kee ku," while the other replies, " Kya kya kyuk." 

 The last of these calls has not the fluty character 

 of the previous ones, and forms a sort of transition 

 towards the hoarsely chattering volleys of sound in 

 which they often indulge, more especially when 

 startled or fleeing before the attacks of other birds. 

 Besides all these calls they have a whole range of 

 low-toned notes that fill all the intervals between 

 the fits of loud chattering with which a family party 

 enlivens its prying progress from tree to tree. One 

 of the commonest of these conversational notes 

 consists of the syllables " chaek chaek," repeated in 

 subdued tones and varied intonation. 



The number of them to be met with in a garden 

 varies greatly at different times of year, and even 

 from day to day. Sometimes for several days a 

 garden will seem to be full of them, so constantly do 

 their various calls resound ; and other periods occur 

 during which they are only seen and heard at wide 

 intervals. The time of year in which they usually 

 appear in largest number is the rainy season, when 

 they are going about in little family parties, con- 

 sisting of a pair of old birds and two or three young 

 ones, who are readily distinguished from their parents 



