SOME COMMON INDIAN BIBDS. 191 



brought up young birds, which were not at all difficult to rear. 

 On one occasion I saw a Boiler hover over and plunge in water, 

 like a Kingfisher, and this suggested to my mind an interesting 

 theory. The Boiler is very Kingfisher-like in many of its ways, 

 and might not this taste for water have been inherited by a bird 

 whose ancestors descended from Kingfisher-like birds ? The 

 Indian Boiler is regarded as sacred by all pious Hindoos-, and 

 when I first went out to India, everything being new to me, and 

 also being keen on collecting birds, I was in the act of shooting 

 a specimen of this bird, when an English-speaking Hindoo lad 

 that accompanied me laid his hand on my arm and said earnestly, 

 "Do not shoot pretty bird, sir; like God ! " To his mind the 

 beauty of the bird and that of his deity were one, and out of 

 respect to his feelings I lowered my gun. It is a curious fact 

 that, though Boilers appear to feel the heat as much as any bird, 

 and sit with gaping bills during a hot day, they seldom drink. 



Among the Pigeon family one of the most noticeable is the 

 Bengal Green Pigeon (Crocopus phoenicopterus) , a bird of exquisite 

 plumage, which is very fond of the fruit of the banyan tree. Its 

 call, which is a low soft whistling, has been likened to the sound 

 of rippling water. As it keeps to the thickest and highest part 

 of the tree, it does not afford much scope for observation. I have 

 never seen them on the ground, and very much doubt if they ever 

 do settle on it. Two familiar Indian Doves are the Spotted Dove 

 (Turtur suratensis), and the Indian Bing-Dove (T. risorius) ; the 

 latter has soft and pleasing notes, and a native rendering of 

 them is "sissoo do," i. e. " give mustard seed." The Bed Turtle- 

 Dove (CEnopopelia tranquebarica) is, to my mind, the most beau- 

 tiful of any of our Indian Doves. The male bird is somewhat 

 larger than a Thrush, and has the general plumage rosy pink, 

 with slate-blue head and black collar. It is found commonly 

 enough in some parts in small flocks among crops. 



Most, if not all, Indian gardens have in or near them water 

 in some form or another, whether it be river, lake, or pond, and 

 fishing quietly by the side of it will be seen the Little Heron, 

 known to Anglo-Indians as " Paddy-bird " — or, to give it its correct 

 name, the Pond Heron (Ardea greyi). I think one of the most 

 attractive features of Indian bird-life is the Heron family, so 

 generously distributed throughout the country — from the Common 



