19 A BIRD CALENDAR 



of December and January, are almost unknown 

 in February, and the light dews that form 

 during the hours of darkness disappear shortly 

 after sunrise. 



The Indian countryside is now good to look 

 upon ; it possesses all the beauties of the land- 

 scape of July, save the sunsets. The soft 

 emerald hue of the young wheat and barley 

 is rendered more vivid by contrast with the 

 deep rich green of the mango trees. Into the 

 earth's verdant carpet is worked a gay pattern 

 of white poppies, purple linseed blooms, blue 

 and pink gram flowers, and yellow blossoms of 

 mimosa, mustard and arhar. Towards the end 

 of the month the silk- cotton trees (Bombax 

 malabaricd) begin to put forth their great red 

 flowers, but not until March does each look 

 like a great scarlet nosegay. 



The patches of sugar-cane grow smaller day 

 by day, and in nearly every village the little 

 presses are at work from morn till eve. 



From the guava groves issue the rattle of tin 

 pots and the shouts of the boys told off to 

 protect the ripening fruit from the attacks of 

 crows, parrots and other feathered marauders. 

 Nor do these sounds terminate at night-fall ; 

 indeed they become louder after dark, for it is 



