INDIAN SONG-BIRDS 
AVING discoursed upon the noisy birds 
of India, it is but fitting that we should 
give the songsters an innings, for we have 
some song-birds in the East, notwith- 
standing the article of the Anglo-Indian creed, which 
declares that in the country of his adoption birds do not 
sing, that they caw, croak, squeak, and make all manner 
of objectionable and abominable noises, but sing—no! 
This article of belief is a gross libel on many birds. 
Nevertheless, those who subscribe to it are able to plead 
extenuating circumstances, for, as we have seen, India 
is the happy hunting ground of a whole army of noisy 
birds, many of which are exceedingly abundant, and 
not only exasperate the European beyond measure by 
their importunity, but drown the melody of those birds 
which have tuneful voices. 
“The nightingale, if she should sing by day 
When every goose is cackling, would be thought 
No better musician than the wren.” 
India possesses some song-birds which can hold their 
own against all comers. This any unprejudiced observer 
will admit. The Englishman is, of course, not an un- 
prejudiced observer. It is impossible to bring him to 
believe that the song of any foreign bird can equal the 
U 289 
