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Mr. Aubyn Trevor-Battye,



several times in the Himalayas. We saw a Dipper on a tributary of

the Tista in Sikhim.


Beyond question the most striking of the finches seen was

the Scarlet Finch (or Grosbeak) ( Hcsmatospiza sipali), we saw it in

Sikhim. For sheer brilliancy we have nothing like this in England.

There was black about it when it flew, but sitting in a tree by the

side of the precipitous mountain track it looked a spot of fire. The

Indian House Sparrow ( Passer doviesticus) was as common and as

impertinent as our own, and in the village of Churia in Nepal there

were many Sparrows that were neither this nor the Tree Sparrow

and were not identified.


The Indian Sand Martin ( Cotile sivensis ) was often about the

rivers ; I could not have distinguished it from our own ,but it looked,

as it is, a little smaller.


The Chimney-Swallow ( Hirundo rustica) was abundant.


I do not know any bird much more difficult to detect in a tree

than the Common Green Barbet (Thereiceryx zeylonicus), unless per¬

haps it be Meyer’s Parrot in Africa. How often have I looked up

into a dense-leafed tree for each of them, stepping forwards, back¬

wards, and round and round, gazing till my neck was stiff. Though

the Barbet had been calling until I came too close it was seldom seen,

until it took flight and was off to another tree. It flies much like a

Woodpecker. Its loud metallic call went on all day, and often as

one turned in at night in the dak bungalow there was the Barbet

still calling.


The Indian Boiler ( Coracias indica) seems to be in no way

different in habits from our Mediterranean friend. It flies with the

same Jay-like flight, it tumbles in the air, it catches insects from

its watching' place. In Ceylon, as I remember noticing, these birds

are curiously local. In a long motor drive you shall not see one,

and then for a mile or so on end they are sitting on the telegraph

wires every here and there.


One often hears Woodpeckers and occasionally sees one flying,

but their identification would entail more* time and watching than I

could afford, and even with that I should have certainly made

mistakes.


There are no more delightful birds than the Bee-eaters. The



