Hybrid Buntings. 
289 
(September) slitting on their third nest. The Brush Bronze- 
wing Doves, which share their quarters, have had continuous 
nests but they have only fully reared two. 
I W o liopi;. .1 liulc laler, i.e., as soon as the young hybrids are 
in ;ulult phiniagc, Mr. Ihomassct will describe fully their plumage in the 
various stages. Of course this may take some time, as according :o mv 
experience tlic Nonpareil takes about three years before ilonning ful! adult 
plumage, and .dso its plumage (lifters but little ut any period of the 
year, v^hile the Indigo, as is common knowledge, passes into ecli])se plumage 
during the winter months. It will be interesting to know to what extent 
the liybrids are afYected by these conditions. — Ed.] . 
♦ 
Indian Birds. 
Dear Indian Birds, I have loved you so, 
From the Minivet to the vulgar Crow. 
I can spare a moment to think of you all, 
Sultan Bird, White-eyes, and Karwal. 
Bright blue Rollers sitting on high. 
A jewelled patch against the sky. 
The fierce wild Shrike, who hangs his prey 
Up in a bush for another day. 
The beautiful Sunbird, hovering bright, 
All iridescent in the light. 
The Hoopoe quick and slim and sleek. 
Busy, crested, and curved of beak. 
That small mud-Minah, his name I've heard, 
"That little bird Mem sahib Powey bird." 
There flitting about the cheery Treepie, 
Gives his musical whistling metallic cry. 
Other birds, too, I now recall, 
And remember how I saw them all. 
A dear little Shama, I can't think yet 
How he got inside my mosquito net. 
Brown and white, and slim and shy, 
I let you out, and away you fly. 
Now see that busybody go, 
Always fussing, the black King Crow, 
Other birds must obey his law, 
That's what he thinks King Crows are for. 
Other birds to ronst must go 
Quick, at the ordet of old King Crow, 
Shrike and Roller are meek, I vow, 
Anything better than all this row. 
He is hunting Crows with an angry sh-i?k. 
Who have twice his size and power of beak. 
