THE CHILKA. 183 



genial home, and where there is space 

 for a margin of green turf, the peafowl 

 steals out from among the overhanging 

 bamboo clumps, morning and evening, 

 to pick up small marine insects. 



Several islands are scattered about 

 the lake, some flat and rush-grown, 

 where water-rail and teal, and some 

 other species breed, and where col- 

 lectors of eggs may find specimens not 

 often procurable. But the most remark- 

 able of the group is Bird Island, a high 

 pile of boulders at the southern end of 

 the lake, and distant about two miles 

 from the shore. It is greatly favoured 

 by birds of many sorts as a breeding- 

 place. Even birds which usually build 

 on the mainland, like the osprey and 

 the common blue pigeon, seem to prefer 



