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Bird-feeding in India.



for instance, an architecture which in certain essentials is different

from the Indio-Aryan architecture of India generally; it includes a

slight and beautiful pillar springing from a decorative base. Their

principal city is Ahmadabad in Gujarat [Bombay Presidency].


The Jains protect all animals ; no creature, even in extreme

old age, is ever killed by them. In Ahmadabad is a place called the

Pinjrapal, which is filled with yards, stalls, and cages. This place,

which is supported by voluntary contributions, always contains a

large collection of homeless and decrepit animals ; they are said to

number nearly one thousand. One sees there horses, donkeys, cattle,

sheep, goats, dogs and monkeys. At the time of my visit there were

also a Crane, a Stork, two Barn-Owls, Parrakeets and some fowls.

There is an insect-house, but this I was not brave enough to visit:

it is devoted to fleas and other personal insects. These are fed at

intervals by the expedient of placing a dog or other unfortunate

creature inside the room. I fear this must always have a balance

against the poor dog.


In some of the smaller towns — in Ajmer for example—birds

are fed by means of a large tray suspended overhead by wires

stretched across the street, and a beautiful sight in the sun are the

Pose-ringed Paroquets who crowd to the trays chattering and hang¬

ing on in amusing attitudes.


In Ahmadabad, trays are attached to trunks of the trees

that border the roads, and these are kept filled with food for the

little striped Ground-Squirrels that swarm everywhere; but the

birds are fed by a more elaborate contrivance. These take the

form of what for want of a better term I must call towers. They

are built of wood, carved and coloured, are of light and admirable

design, and no two are exactly alike. The base of each is of stone,

usually carrying a railing, or in one case a beautifully wrought metal

grille. The principle is a tall central post or wooden pillar from

which struts of artistic shape fan out to support the floor which is

really an immense tray for the birds’ food. The woodwork is

elaborately carved, All are covered with roofs of an ornamental

character. The food-floor is approached by steps—by an iron or a

wooden stairway. The water is placed in a large tray, which, as

will be seen in one of the photographs, hangs independently from



