26 WANDERINGS OP A 



are silently devouring whatever comes in their way. Now 

 and then a vulture in the act of bolting a piece of flesh has 

 to relinquish the morsel to his more nimble companion, 

 whose sharp talons soon tear it off, and he is seen devouring 

 the prize as he sails away. The two species often roost 

 together, and seem to agree very well except at feeding- 

 time. Plocks of both accompany troops for hundreds of miles, 

 and regularly at daybreak, as the new camp is forming, 

 they may be seen approaching from the direction of the pre- 

 vious day's halt.* 



The mango is the most common fruit-tree in this district, 

 but the fruit is not equal to that of Mazagon mango of 

 Bombay. The turpentine flavour of the mango is less per- 

 ceptible the oftener the fruit is eaten. There are many 

 persons, however, never become reconciled to it — a peculiarity 

 which unfortunately has deprived me of enjoying what many 

 consider the most highly-flavoured and luscious of Eastern 

 fruits. The tree grows to a considerable size, and is taU and 

 spreading, with dense foliage of a dark green ; it studs the 

 country over, forming little groves (called tcrpes), which break 

 the sameness of the scenery, and offer a grateful shade from 

 the sun. I have spent many happy hours in these mango- 

 topes, during the fiercest heat of summer, searching for birds, 

 especially warblers. Here may frequently be seen the para- 

 dise flycatcher {Tchitrea paradisi, Linn.), and though not 

 common, its singularly attractive plumage can scarcely 

 escape observation. The adult male has a blue head, white 

 body, with two of the tail-feathers prolonged for upwards of 



* Armies in the field have been followed by flocks of vultures, kites, and 

 crows. It has been stated to me, on good authority, that the crows of New 

 Brunswick and state of Maine decreased very much in number during the 

 American war, and returned afterwards. 



