38 
NOTE ON A TOUR IN MYSORE. 
end, within the uprights, are four or six arms of either 
wood or metal, which are connected at the upper extremi- 
ties by bars of smootb polished wood or bamboo. This 
forms the reel. At the opposite end of the axis to that 
where the winch-handle is fixed, a pulley is attached, which 
communicating by a band with a rough eccentric, marked 
C in the sketch, gives a lateral motion to the bar DD. In 
the centre of this bar, and immediately in front of the basin 
where the coccoons are steeped, two holes are jjunched, 
through each of which a filament of silk (the two crossing 
each other below) is led on to the reel. The object of the 
crossing is to free the filaments from the gummy substance 
present in the coccoon, and to give the silk a roundness ; 
and the lateral movement of the bar distributes the silk 
evenly on the reel. The silk is separated, according to its 
quality, into three classes, sold in large quantities, to a 
local soucar and exported. 
From Channapatna I went on by train to French Rocks. 
The monotony of a railway journey can be relieved, by 
those who know anything about the birds of the country, 
by trying to identify all the different birds which perch on 
telegraph wires, which they use as a fixed station from 
which to watchfor their food. In the early days of tele- 
graph wires birds used, before rhey had adapted themselves 
to the new form of trap, to be frequenrly killed by striking 
against the wires. In the same way birds are frequently 
killed by striking against lighthouses ; and, if notes are 
taken, at diifereut light-houses, of the date of striking and 
direction from which the bird was coming, data can be 
obtained for working out the course foUowtul by migratory 
birds. To my friend Mr. H. R. P. Carter i am indebted 
for the following list of insectivorous birds, which habitu- 
ally perch on telegraph wires in Southern India : — All tho 
Swallows and Shrikes, Kestril, rcd-lioaded ^[erlin. black 
