NATURALIST IN INDIA. 17 



some eight or ten feet, had the tail almost separated ; whilst 

 a few here and there had lost the appendage altogether, 

 being complete frogs. 



About half-a-mile from my bungalow there were two 

 large hedges of prickly pear, and between them a stagnant 

 pool. I often took up a position under the cool shade of a 

 peepul-tree close by, and watched the habits of the feathered 

 tribe at mid-day. On one occasion, having shot a sun-bird, 

 it fell on the margin of the pool, when some animal jumped 

 from the muddy water, seized it, and instantly disappeared 

 with its prey. A short time afterwards a large green frog 

 appeared on the surface. I shot it, and discovered the bird 

 in its mouth. 



The purple honey-sucker of Jerdon, the beautiful blue- 

 winged sun-bird {Arachnechthra asiatica, Lath.), is common, 

 and nothing can exceed the grace and elegance of its con- 

 gener, the Ceylon sun-bird (L&ptocoma zeylonica). This ex- 

 quisite little creature sports round the top of the prickly 

 pear, sucking the nectar from its flowers like a hiimming- 

 bird. Neither species, however, subsists altogether on honey, 

 for flies and minute insects are frequently found in their 

 gizzards. The brilliant green spot on the wing of the male is 

 wanting in the female. 



The gaudy lesser crimson-breasted flycatcher (Pericro- 

 cotiis peregrinus) is a tenant of the woods and hedges. Some- 

 times flocks of males, at other, times females only, are ob- 

 served ; the rich and beautiful plumage of the former is very 

 striking ; insects and larvae constitute its favourite food. The 

 shrill, clamorous cry of the koel, or black cuckoo {Eudynamys 

 orientalis) was constantly heard in woods and groves ; it feeds 

 on fruit. I shot a specimen of a young male European 

 cuckoo (Guculus canorus) on the 16th of October. 



G 



