12 WANDERINGS OF A 



Of the Corvidse we have only the Indian crow {Corvus 

 culminatus) and Indian jackdaw (C. splendens) about Poonah. 

 Both are plentifully distributed. The latter is a bold marauder, 

 and fearlessly disputes his rights with the govind-kite (Milvus 

 migrans, Bodd.) and the Egyptian vulture {Neophron percnop- 

 terus) ; like the rook, the Indian crow breeds in societies. In 

 plumage and habits the Indian sparrow is very similar to the 

 British species ; the manner in which his nest is formed, and the 

 materials of which it is composed, bear likewise a close resem- 

 blance to that of its brother in England. In the walls of the 

 natives' huts, among the thatch of our bungalows, in every tree, 

 it builds its nest. It is the same dirty Kttle fellow amidst the 

 mud and mire of an Indian city as on the house-tops of St. 

 Giles. — ^Among the most common birds, I noted the Indian 

 robin (^Thamndbia fulicata). In manner and habits it is 

 the Oriental representative of redbreast, just as the migra- 

 tory thrush takes the place of the former with the Canadian 

 emigrants. — The gray titmouse (Parus cinereus) represents 

 the great ox-eye of Europe ; it is, however, a poor rival in 

 point of brilliancy of feather, nor is his caU-note so clear and 

 joyous ; it is, however, more familiar, and may be constantly 

 seen in our gardens. — The intensity of the red on the sides 

 of the bay-backed shrike {Lanms hxirdwicki'i) is peculiar to 

 the breeding-season. It is the most common butcher-bird, 

 and may be seen perched on the lower branch of a mimosa, 

 watching an opportunity to dart on some luckless beetle : 

 down it pounces on its prey, which it bears away to a neigh- 

 bouring thorn, impales and devours ; then flits within a few 

 feet of the ground to a new perch, from whence, with head 

 awry, it examines intently the ground beneath, now and 

 then answering the harsh scream of its companion on some 

 neighbouring tree. 



