Conwnon Birds of Western Himalayas 



the latter is but 7J. Again, the red of the 

 former is scarlet and that of the latter crimson 

 rather than scarlet. These distinctions are suf- 

 ficiently apparent when two species are seen 

 side by side, but are scarcely sufficient to enable 

 the ordinary observer to determine the species 

 of a flock seen flitting about amid the foliage. 

 This, however, need not disturb us. Most 

 people are quite satisfied to know that these 

 exquisite little birds are all called minivets. 



THE ORIOLID^ OR ORIOLE FAMILY 



The beautiful orioles are birds of the plains 

 rather than of the hills. One species, however, 

 the Indian Oriole {Oriolus kundoo) is a summer 

 visitor to the Himalayas. The cock is a bright 

 yellow bird with a pink bill. There is some 

 black on his cheeks and wing feathers. The 

 hen is less brilliantly coloured, the yellow of 

 her plumage being dull and mixed with green. 

 Orioles are a little larger than bulbuls. They 

 rarely, if ever, descend to the ground. I do 

 not remember having seen the birds at Muree, 

 Mussoorie, or Naini Tal, but they are common 

 at Almora in summer. 



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