FOR NORTHERN INDIA 115 



majority of the cock bay as or weaver-birds 

 have assumed their black-and-golden wedding 

 garment ; nevertheless they do not as a rule 

 begin to nest before July. 



The curious excrescence on the bill of the 

 drake nukta or comb-duck is now much en- 

 larged. This betokens the approach of the 

 nesting season for that species. 



If the monsoon happen to burst early many 

 of the birds which breed in the rains begin 

 building their nests towards the end of June, 

 but, in nine years out of ten, July marks the 

 beginning of the breeding period of aquatic 

 birds, therefore the account of their nests 

 properly finds place in the calendar of that 

 month, or of August, when the season is at its 

 height. 



