120 GLIMPSES OF INDIAN BIRDS 



Very different is the behaviour of the shikra ; he 

 makes a dash at the quarry, and, if he fail to seize 

 it at once, gives up the chase. 



The red-headed merlin is thrown from the hand 

 in the same way as the shikra. According to Mr. 

 R. Thompson, the turumti affords peculiar sport 

 with the spotted dove (Turtur suratensis), " striking 

 at the quarry several times, and even often losing 

 it altogether, owing partly to the softness of the 

 dove's feathers, which give way at the least touch, 

 and partly to its rapid dodging flight." 



Turumtis breed from February to June, earlier 

 in South India than in the Punjab and the Himalayas. 

 The nest is usually built in a fork near the top of a 

 tree a tamarind or a mango for preference. In 

 size and appearance the nest resembles that of a 

 crow. It consists of a conglomeration of twigs, form- 

 ing a platform of which the diameter measures about 

 a foot. In the middle is a depression, lined with fine 

 twigs, roots, feathers, or other convenient materials, 

 in which the eggs are placed. Both sexes take part 

 in nest building, which they appear to consider 

 a very difficult and arduous task, judging by the 

 fuss they make over the placing of every twig brought 

 to the nest. The eggs are reddish white, very thickly 

 speckled with brownish red. Turumtis are exceedingly 

 pugnacious at the nesting season, and are as resentful 

 as king-crows at any kind of intrusion ; hence they 

 are kept busy in giving chase to crows et hoc genus 

 omne, who seem to take a positive delight in teasing 

 fussy birds with nests. 



