FOR NORTHERN INDIA 22 



ensis) are sitting ; a few of them are feeding 

 young birds. The dusky horned-owls (B. coro- 

 mandus) have either finished breeding or are 

 tending nestlings. In addition to the nests of 

 the above-mentioned owls those of the collared 

 scops owl (Scops bakkamaena) and the mottled 

 wood-owl (Syrnium ocellatum) are likely to be 

 found at this season of the year. The scops is 

 a small owl with aigrettes or " horns," the 

 wood-owl is a large bird without aigrettes. 



Both nest in holes in trees and lay white 

 eggs after the manner of their kind. The 

 scops owl breeds from January till April, while 

 February and March are the months in which 

 to look for the eggs of the wood-owl. 



In the western districts of the United 

 Provinces the Indian cliff-swallows (Hirundo 

 fluvicola) are beginning to construct their 

 curious nests. Here and there a pair of blue 

 rock-pigeons (Colombia intermedia) is busy with 

 eggs or young ones. In the Punjab the ravens 

 are likewise employed. 



The nesting season of the hoopoe has now 

 fairly commenced. Courtship is the order of 

 the day. The display of this beautiful species 

 is not at all elaborate. The bird that " shows 

 off " merely runs along the ground with corona 



