FOR NORTHERN INDIA 191 



The bird choir is composed of comparatively 

 few voices. Of the seasonal choristers the 

 grey-headed flycatchers are most often heard. 

 The fantail flycatchers occasionally sing their 

 cheerful lay, but at this season they more 

 often emit a plaintive call, as if they were 

 complaining of the cold. 



Some of the sunbirds are still in undress 

 plumage ; a few have not yet come into song, 

 these give vent only to harsh scolding notes. 

 From the thicket emanate sharp sounds 

 tick-tick, chee-chee, chuck-chuck, chiff-chaff ; 

 these are the calls of the various warblers that 

 winter with us. Above the open grass-land 

 the Indian skylarks are singing at Heaven's 

 gate ; these birds avoid towns and groves and 

 gardens, in consequence their song is apt to 

 be overlooked by human beings. Very occa- 

 sionally the oriole utters a disconsolate-sound- 

 ing tew ; he is a truly tropical bird ; it is 

 only when the sun flames overhead out of a 

 brazen sky that he emits his liquid notes. 

 Here and there a hoopoe, more vigorous than 

 his fellows, croons softly uk, uk, uk. The 

 coppersmith now and then gives forth his 

 winter note a subdued wow ; this is heard 

 chiefly at the sunset hour. 



