Contents
PAGE I. British Birds in the Plains of India 1 II. The Bird in Blue 10 III. Sparrows in the Nursery 16 IV. The Care of Young Birds after they leave the Nest 23 V. The Adjutant Bird 29 VI. The Sarus 35 VII. The Stability of Species 40 VIII. The Amadavat 46 IX. The Nutmeg Bird 52 X. The Did-he-do-it 56 XI. Cobbler or Tailor? 62 XII. A Crow in Colours 68 XIII. Up-to-date Species Making 73 XIV. Honeysuckers 78 XV. A Hewer of Wood 84 XVI. A Feathered Sprinter 89 XVII. A Bird of Character 94 XVIII. Swifts 99 XIX. Birds as Automata 104 XX. Playing Cuckoo 111 XXI. The Koel 117 XXII. The Common Doves of India 124 XXIII. Doves in a Verandah 130 XXIV. The Golden Oriole 135 XXV. The Barn Owl 140 XXVI. A Tree-top Tragedy 145 XXVII. Two Little Birds 150 XXVIII. The Paradise Flycatcher 156 XXIX. Butcher Birds 163 XXX. Ducks 168 XXXI. A Dethroned Monarch 173 XXXII. Birds in the Rain 178 XXXIII. The Weaver Bird 183 XXXIV. Green Parrots 190 XXXV. The Roosting of the Sparrows 197 XXXVI. A Gay Deceiver 202 XXXVII. The Emerald Merops 208 XXXVIII. Do Animals Think? 213 XXXIX. A Couple of Neglected Craftsmen 219 XL. Birds in their Nests 224 XLI. Bulbuls 229 XLII. The Indian Corby 235