44 THE DENIZENS OF THE FOREST 



in large flocks among the scrub delightful, homely 

 little birds with bright and cheery ways which 

 specially attract us. Not very common, but to be 

 found in the lower part of the valley, is the beauti- 

 ful fairy bluebird, a large bird 10 inches in length 

 with a glistening cobalt-blue upper part and velvet 

 black beneath. The European cuckoo may be 

 heard all day long in the season from about 3,500 

 feet upwards. And about a dozen other cuckoos 

 visit Sikkim, of which by far the prettiest is the 

 emerald cuckoo, a small bird not much more than 

 6 inches long, of a brilliant emerald green with 

 golden sheen, and below white barred with shining 

 green. Kingfishers are not numerous, as fish are 

 scarce. But there are four species, of which the 

 prettiest is a lovely little creature about 5 inches 

 long, coloured with rufous, white, and different 

 shades of blue and violet. 



These are only a few of the most striking birds ; 

 but to give an idea of the variety of other birds 

 which may be found in Sikkim, many of which are 

 hardly less beautiful than those above described, we 

 may learn from Gammie that among the birds of 

 prey there are eleven eagles ; the peregrine falcon, a 

 little pigmy falcon, and five other falcons ; a big 

 brown wood-owl, 2 feet in length, a pigmy owlet 

 measuring only 6 inches, and nine other owls ; 

 and six kites ; among the game-birds, besides 

 pheasants, three quails, two hill-partridges, a 

 jungle-fowl, woodcock, a snow-cock, and a snow- 

 partridge ; among other classes of birds, nine or 

 ten species of pigeons and doves; the European 

 raven and a jungle crow ; one jay and several mag- 



