133 A BIRD CALENDAR 



Both kinds of nests are found in the same 

 locality and at the same time of the year. 

 Against the theory that there are two species 

 of ashy wren-warbler is the fact that there is 

 no difference in appearance between the eggs 

 found in the two kinds of nest. All eggs 

 are brick-red or mahogany colour, without 

 any spots or markings. 



Many of the Indian cliif-s wallows, of which 

 the nests are described in the calendar for 

 March, bring up a second brood in the 



" rains." 



Needless to state that in the monsoon the 

 tank and the jhil are the happy hunting 

 grounds of the ornithologist. 



In July and August not less than thirty 

 species of waterfowl nidificate. Floating nests 

 are constructed by sarus cranes, purple coots 

 and the jacanas. The various species of egrets 

 breed in colonies in trees in some village not 

 far from a tank ; in company with them 

 spoonbills, cormorants, snake-birds, night- 

 herons and other birds often nest. The 

 white-breasted waterhen constructs its nursery 

 in a thicket at the margin of some village pond. 

 The resident ducks are also busy with their 

 nests. These are in branches of trees, in 



