FOR NORTHERN INDIA 120 



ferring them to the beak while on the wing. 

 A few king-crows and bee-eaters join them. 

 On the ground below magpie-robins, babblers, 

 toads, lizards, musk-rats and other terrestrial 

 creatures make merry. If the swarm comes 

 out at dusk, as often happens, bats and spotted 

 owlets join those of the gourmands that are 

 feasting while on the wing. 



The earth is now green and sweet. The 

 sugar-cane grows apace. The rice, the various 

 millets and the other autumn crops are being 

 sown. The cultivators take full advantage of 

 every break in the rains to conduct agricultural 

 operations. 



As we have seen, the nocturnal chorus of the 

 birds is now replaced by the croaking of 

 frogs and the stridulation of crickets. In the 

 day-time the birds still have plenty to say for 

 themselves. The brain-fever birds scream as 

 lustily as they did in May and June. The 

 koel is, if possible, more vociferous than ever, 

 especially at the beginning of the month. 

 The Indian cuckoo does not call so frequently 

 as formerly, but, by way of compensation, 

 the pied crested cuckoo uplifts his Voice at 

 short intervals. 



The whoot, wboot, whoot of the crow-pheasant 



