The BU'ds of India. 
47 
Nearly half a century ago Jei don wrote in the introductory chapter 
to his " Birds of India The tendency of the present age is to accu- 
mulate facts, and not to generalise, but we have now a sufficiency of facts, 
and want our Lyall to explain them." 
Since Jerdon's day things have changed. At present we are almost 
overwhelmed by theories. Many of these possess little or no value be- 
cause they are founded on an insufficient basis of fact. Day by day fresh 
theories are published which would not have been enunciated had their 
originators graduated in the University of the Tropics. 
As an example of the kind of absurdities to which theorising on in- 
sufficient evidence leads I may cite Dr. Jeniier's explanation of the parasitic 
habits of the Cuckoo. He suggested that the short stay which Cuckoos 
make in England is the true reason why they do not bring up their own 
young, as the parent birds would be impelled, by a desire to migrate, to 
quit their progeny before they were able to provide for themselves. Had 
that eminent medical man paid a visit to India, and studied the habits of 
the commonest Cuckoo, the Koel, he would not have formulated this 
theory. The Koel stays for over six months in those localities where it 
breeds, so that there can be no question of its having sufficient time to rear 
up its young. 
Nko-Darwinism. 
The growth of what is known as Neo-Darwinism is a striking example 
of the modern tendency to theorise on insufficient evidence. A large school 
of biologists, headed by Dr. Wallace and Prof. VVeisniann, declare that all 
the varied phenomena of the organic world can be explained by the action 
of natural selection on indefinite and indeterminate variations. I venture 
to submit that Wallace and Weismann would have but few followers had 
onr European naturalists the advantage of an intimate acquaintance with 
the birds of India. 
Come with me in imagination to a wood on the Nilgiri hills and let 
us rest there a little, sheltered by the foliage from the rays of the sun, and 
listen to the voices of the birds. The joyous notes of the Bulbul [Otocoinpsa 
fuscicaudala) fall unceasingly on the ear, forming the dominant note of the 
bird choir. Upon these are superimposed a tumult of other sounds — the 
curious call of the Scimitar Babbler {Poviatorhiiius horsfieldii), the mirthful 
tones of the Laughing Thrush {'J'rochalopterutn cachinnans), the sweet little 
song of the White-browed Fantailed Flycatcher, the softer lay of Tickell's 
Flycatcher [Cyoniis ttcke.lli), the cheeping of the black and orange species 
(Ochromela nigiimfa), the feeble twitters of the grey-headetl one (CuUcicapa 
ceylonetisis), and a multitude of other sounds. 
The Paradise Flycatcher. 
While we are listening a fair3'-like bird flits silently into view and 
perches in a leafy tree. This is a Paradise Flycatcher — a cock in the full 
glory of his adult plumage. Jet black is his crested head, contrasting 
