FOR NORTHERN INDIA 97 



The nest hole was capacious, its dimensions 

 being roughly I foot by I foot by 2 feet. From 

 the bottom five handfuls of pieces of dry bark 

 were extracted. Three white eggs were found 

 lying on these pieces of bark. The sitting hen 

 resented the " nest-breaking," and, having 

 pecked viciously at the intruder, tried to 

 escape by climbing up to the top of the nest 

 hole. She was dragged out of her retreat by 

 the beak, after an attempt to pull her out by 

 the tail had resulted in all her tail feathers 

 coming away in her captor's hand ! 



The young green parrots have all left their 

 nests and are flying about in noisy flocks. They 

 may be distinguished from the adults by the 

 short tail and comparatively soft call. 



Most pairs of hoopoes are now accompanied 

 by at least one young bird which is almost 

 indistinguishable from the adults. The young 

 birds receive, with squeaks of delight, the 

 grubs or caterpillars proffered by the parents. 

 Occasionally a pair of hoopoes may be seen 

 going through the antics of courtship pre- 

 paratory to raising a second brood. 



In scrub-jungle parties of partridges, con- 

 sisting of father, mother and five or six little 

 chicks, wander about. 



