8 A BIRD CALENDAR 



The magpie-robin or dhayal, who for months 

 past has uttered no sound, save a scolding note 

 when occasion demanded, now begins to make 

 melody. His January song, however, is harsh 

 and crude, and not such as to lead one to 

 expect the rich deep-toned music that will 

 compel admiration in April, May and June. 



Towards the end of the month the fluty call 

 of the koel, another hot-weather chorister, may 

 be heard in the eastern portions of northern 

 India. 



Most of the cock sunbirds cast off their 

 workaday plumage and assumed their splendid 

 metallic purple wedding garment in November 

 and December, a few, however, do not attain 

 their full glory until January. By the end of 

 the month it is difficult to find a cock that is 

 not bravely attired from head to tail in 

 iridescent purple. 



Comparatively few birds build their nests in 

 January. Needless to state, doves' nests con- 

 taining eggs may be found at this season as at 

 all other seasons. It is no exaggeration to 

 assert that some pairs of doves rear up seven or 

 eight broods in the course of the year. The 

 consequence is that, notwithstanding the fact 

 that the full clutch consists of but two eggs, 



