FOR NORTHERN INDIA 35 



the flame-of-the-forest (Butea /rondos a). The 

 sub-Himalayan forests become yellow-tinted 

 owing to the fading of the leaves of the sal 

 (Shorea robusta), many of which are shed in 

 March. The sal, however, is never entirely 

 leafless ; the young foliage appears as the 

 old drops off ; while this change is taking 

 place the minute pale yellow flowers open 

 out. 



The familiar yellow wasps, which have been 

 hibernating during the cold weather, emerge 

 from their hiding-places and begin to con- 

 struct their umbrella-shaped nests or combs, 

 which look as if they were made of rice- 

 paper. 



March is a month of great activity for the 

 birds. Those that constituted the avian chorus 

 of February continue to sing, and to their 

 voices are now added those of many other 

 minstrels. Chief of these is the pied singer of 

 Ind the magpie-robin or dhayal whose song 

 is as beautiful as that of the English robin at 

 his best. From the housetops the brown 

 rock-chat begins to pour forth his exceedingly 

 sweet lay. The Indian robin is in full song. 

 The little golden ioras, hidden away amid 

 dense foliage, utter their many joyful sounds. 



