Jottings on common Indian Birds.



209



JOTTINGS ON COMMON INDIAN BIRDS.


By Aubyn Trevor-Battye.


When I look back at my visit to India, two pictures, for

absolute charm, stand out I think from all the rest; and this, not¬

withstanding the fact that that time included experiences so interest¬

ing as a Kheddah in Nepal, a visit to Nepal’s amazing cities and

travels in the mountains of Sikhim. These two pictures are the

heart of the Nepal jungle, when one rode out alone in early

morning with Mahout, and that evening with the Sarus Cranes

in the desert of Rajputana. Watching a rhinoceros as it worked

its way slowly up a water-course formed an incident of the first;

but that jungle experience owed not a little of its charm to the

ways and the character of my own elephant, whose splendid per¬

sonality never ceased to be for me a study of wonder and delight.

The other day, in speaking with a wounded soldier in the hospital,

the poor fellow said, “ I don’t seem to remember much about it, we

seemed to be always marching.” Well, when one has an Indian

programme to get through it is pretty much that way. That I

think is why the other picture is that of the jhil and the Sarus

Cranes ; it was almost the only time in India when I was able to

have a really long and quiet look.


There are over 1,600 birds on the Indian list, and they are

all scientifically and fully dwelt with in the standard works ; and

the habits of the majority have been described over and over again by

writers who know their India well. There could therefore seem but

small excuse for these random experiences of a tripper. But when

we read the Editor’s appeal for articles, each one of us, seeing the

devotion of his Editorship and guessing what it must mean to have

to find cargo for the ship month in and month out, feels strung up

to do his best. Hence these jottings.


The ornithologist who has time on his hands—time to creep

about and listen and speer—will hear and learn and recognise very

many birds familiar in collections, but not to be seen in a hurry

under natural conditions. Many may however be seen without

looking for them, and those noticed here are some that were



