134 GLIMPSES OF INDIAN BIRDS 



methods. Accordingly, I had the pot containing the 

 nest-bearing plant moved a distance of rather less 

 than a yard, so that it stood in the middle of the door- 

 way. I then had an easy chair placed in the office room 

 at a distance of some four feet from the nest. Finally, 

 I removed such of the leaves as tended to obstruct 

 my view. Thus, I was able to watch the bulbuls through 

 the chik in comfort, reclining in the easy chair. 



Both parent birds were present when the plant was 

 being moved. They looked rather alarmed, but 

 raised no outcry. They did not seem eager to approach 

 the nest after the position of the araJia had been 

 changed. Evidently they did not understand the 

 meaning of what they had seen. Eventually bulbul A 

 summoned sufficient courage to visit the nest, and 

 must have been highly gratified to find the two yoimg- 

 sters and the egg safe. While perching on the nest it 

 kept its eye on me, Jxaving espied me, notwithstanding 

 the fact that there was a chik between me and it. 

 While eyeing me it cocked its head on one side and 

 half opened its bill. The opening of the bill is an 

 expression of anger. The bulbul's crest was also 

 folded back, but this does not necessarily denote 

 anger. The crest invariably assumes this attitude 

 when the bulbul is incubating, or brooding, or feeding 

 its young. It was some time before bulbul B could 

 bring itself to visit the nest. It made at least six 

 abortive attempts before it reached the edge of the 

 nest, and then perched only for a second before flying 

 off with every sign of trepidation. And for the whole 

 of that day it showed itself nervous, whereas A soon 



