BRITISH BIRDS IN PLAINS OF INDIA 3 



that. They are very fond of sparrow for breakfast. 

 Nevertheless, Passer domesticus is quite plentiful enough 

 and is ever ready to nest inside one's bungalow. 



The Indian cock sparrow differs slightly in appear- 

 ance from the English bird, having more white on the 

 sides of his neck. This is not, as might be supposed, 

 due to the fact that he is not coated with soot to 

 such an extent as the cockney bird. Every widely 

 distributed species, including man, has its local pecu- 

 liarities, due to climatic influences, isolation, and other 

 causes. If the isolation be maintained long enough the 

 process of divergence continues until the various races 

 differ from one another to such an extent as to be 

 called species. Local races are incipient species, species 

 in the making. The barn owl {Strix flammea] is another 

 case in point. This is a familiar owl in England, and 

 is common out here, but not nearly so abundant as the 

 little spotted owlet that makes night hideous by its 

 caterwaulings. The Indian barn owl, which, in default 

 of barns, haunts mosques, temples, deserted buildings, 

 and even secluded verandahs, differs from our English 

 friend in having stronger claws and feet, and the breast 

 spotted instead of plain white. These trivial differences 

 are not usually considered sufficient to justify the division 

 of the barn owl into two species. 



Some of our English birds assume diminutive pro- 

 portions in India, as, for example, the kingfisher and 

 the raven. This may perhaps be attributed to the 

 enervating Indian climate. The common kingfisher 

 (Alcedo ispida) is exceedingly common in all parts of 

 India except the Punjab. It does, indeed, occur in 



