THE EARLY COLD WEATHER 195 



sudden way in which they dart out of the bushes give 

 them a most disagreeable resemblance to rats. 



They have also a singular habit of always associating 

 in groups of uneven numbers, either five or seven. The 

 natives have a pretty legend accounting for the habit. 

 I am sorry to say that I have forgotten it. 



The plumage of these birds is certainly unusually 

 dull ; but, contrary to what is generally supposed, the 

 colouring of the Indian birds is rarely brilliant. The 

 peacock, indeed, in his gorgeous tints has no equal ; and 

 the munal, the pheasant of the Himalaya, may bear 

 comparison with the golden pheasant of China ; and 

 the bright green of the parrots is extremely pretty. 

 But, with the exception of these and those occasional 

 visitors the flamingoes and the mango-birds, I cannot, 

 at the moment, call to mind any bird in Upper India 

 that is really brilliantly arrayed. 



The flamingo I have already described. I will here 

 say a few words of the mango-bird. It is a species of 

 oriole. It is termed by the English the mango-bird, 

 from the circumstance that it makes its appearance at 

 the time when the mango fruit ripens. As regards 

 both form and colouring, it is a beautiful creature. Its 

 back and wings and long, graceful tail are of the 

 smoothest velvety black, while its breast is of the 

 richest golden yellow. 



I have mentioned the parrots. About here they 

 abound. They fly in flocks, screaming as they fly. 

 Heard out of doors, their scream is not unpleasant, and 

 it is charming to watch them ; their flight is so rapid 

 and graceful, their form so pretty, and their colouring 



