FOR NORTHERN INDIA 37 



risen and begun to dispel the pleasant coolness 

 of the night the drinking begins. It continues 

 throughout the hours of daylight. Towards 

 midday, when the west wind blows very hot, 

 it flags somewhat, but even when the tempera- 

 ture is nearer 100 than 90 some avian 

 brawlers are present. As soon as the first 

 touch of the afternoon coolness is felt the 

 clamour acquires fresh vigour and does not 

 cease until the sun has set in a dusty haze, and 

 the spotted owlets have emerged and begun to 

 cackle and call as is their wont. 



These last are by no means the only birds 

 that hold concert parties during the hours of 

 darkness. In open country the jungle owlet 

 and the dusky-horned owl call at intervals, and 

 the Indian nightjar (Caprimulgus asiaticus) 

 imitates the sound of a stone skimming over 

 ice. In the forest tracts Franklin's and Hors- 

 field's nightjars make the welkin ring. Scarce 

 has the sun disappeared below the horizon 

 when the former issues forth and utters its 

 harsh tweet. Horsfield's nightjar emerges a 

 few minutes later, and, for some hours after 

 dusk and for several before dawn, it utters 

 incessantly its loud monotonous chuck, chuck, 

 chuck, chuck, chuck, which has been aptly com- 



