no GLIMPSES OF INDIAN BIRDS 



Seen from below the nursery looks rather like an old 

 crow's nest. The eggs are a beautiful pale green. 

 They are most jealously watched by the parents ; one 

 or other always remaining on guard, and, every now 

 and then, gurgling with delight. 



The youngsters hatch out in a comparatively ad- 

 vanced condition. A baby pond heron about a week 

 old is a most amusing object. If has a long, narrow, 

 pinkish beak, quite unlike the broad triangle that does 

 duty for a mouth in passerine birds. Its neck is dis- 

 proportionately long, while its green legs are many 

 sizes too big for it. Downy feathers are scattered 

 irregularly over the body, and add to the absurdity of 

 its appearance. The eye is bright yellow and gives its 

 possessor a very knowing look. 



Most birds when they have young work like slaves 

 to procure sufficient food for them. Not so the paddy 

 bird. He knows a trick worth two of that. He is a 

 past master in the art of loafing. He does not feed 

 his offspring on tiny insects, dozens of which are 

 required to make a decent meal ; he forces whole 

 frogs down the elastic gullet of the nestling. Now 

 the most ravenous and greedy young bird cannot 

 negotiate very many frogs per diem ; hence the feed- 

 ing of their young is not a great tax upon paddy birds. 



