THE BIRDS OF SINGAPORE ISLAND 
Our remarks on the breeding habits of birds must be very 
brief for we have already out-nin our alloted apace for the 
introduction- 
Some birds appear to pair for Hfe and others but for a 
season. Nesting usually takes place in the *' spring" season 
and one, two or three broods may be reared in the year. A 
definite period of courtship has been observed in many species 
and no doubt takes place in all birds. The courting of the male 
magpie-robin on our local tennis-courts is a joy to behold. 
He postures and displays his black and white plumaj^e to the 
best possible advantage and although the performance api>ears 
rather ridiculous to human eyes it is no doubt very wonderful 
to the little hen bird who in true female fashion feeds in a 
desultory manner at the other end of the grass court, apparently 
absolutely oblivious of the eflforts of the male and with her 
thoughts far away but, we suppose, in truth really very much 
alert and thinking what a hne fellow he is! 
In Singapore the breeding season is very extended and 
although the majority of eggs are to be found from March to 
July, the season is longer than this, but undoubtedly depends 
in a very great degree on the weather; eggs may be very 
plentiful and there may be signs of breeding birds all aroimd 
us in February of one year and almost a reversal of affairs. in 
the same month of the next year. We must omit all reference 
to nests and eggs but nestlmg birds must claim a little space. 
The young bird may be born perfect naked^ helpless, blind 
and quite incapable of feeding itself — unable in fact to raise 
its head in the earlier stages, but on the other hand the youuj^ 
of another species may emerge from the shell clad in a coat 
of down, with eyes open and capable of running about almost 
as soon as hatched! Readers will at once call to mind the 
great difference between the ugly naked squab of a sparrow 
and the active young of the famiyard fowl. Between these 
two extremes are many gradations, and younir birds in general 
provide so many fascinating problems that their study has of 
recent years become almost a separate branch of ornithology 
