138 GLIMPSES OF INDIAN BIRDS 



On the following morning I found the nest half 

 torn from its holdings, and saw the two youngsters 

 on the earth near the roots of the aralia. Some leaves 

 were strewn on the ground. Apparently a cat, a 

 mongoose, or other predaceous creature had attempted 

 to capture the parent bird during the night when it 

 was sitting on the nest. It had not succeeded in the 

 attempt, for both the old birds were hale and hearty ; 

 nevertheless, the fall had killed one of the youngsters. 

 I placed the nest higher up in the aralia, in what I 

 considered a safer situation, wedging it tightly be- 

 tween some branches, and then replaced the remaining 

 nestling. This the parents continued to feed, although 

 they seemed to find the nest difficult of access in its 

 new position. The next morning I found the young 

 bird alive and well in the nest, but this latter was 

 now a lower branch of the aralia, to which it had 

 been tied by string. Some officious chaprassi had 

 doubtless done this. He had probably found the 

 nest pulled down as I had found it on the previous 

 day. Our efforts, however, were of no avail. On 

 the following morning I again found the nest torn 

 down, and this time the young bird was lying lifeless 

 on the ground. The parents were somewhat dis- 

 consolate, and hung about for a little with food in 

 their bills. But they soon seemed to realise that 

 it was useless to bring food to a little bird that would 

 not open its mouth. So they went off. They are, 

 I believe, looking out for a suitable nesting site at 

 the opposite end of my verandah. Bulbuls are as 

 philosophical as they are foolish. 



