Minivets are aerial exquisites.  In descriptions of them superlative follows upon superlative.  The cocks of most species are arrayed in scarlet and black; the hens are not a whit less brilliantly attired in yellow and sable.  One species lives entirely in the plains, others visit them in the cold weather; the majority are permanent residents of the hills.  The solitary denizen of the plains—­the little minivet (Pericrocotus peregrinus)—­is the least resplendent of them all.  Its prevailing hue is slaty grey, but the cock has a red breast and some red on the back.  The nest is a cup so small as either to be invisible from below or to present the appearance of a knot or thickening in the branch on which it is placed.  Sometimes two broods are reared in the course of the year—­one in March, April or May and the other during the rainy season.

The cuckoo-shrike (Grauculus macii) is not nearly related to the cuckoo, nor has it the parasitic habits of the latter.  Its grey plumage is barred like that of the common cuckoo, hence the adjective.  The cuckoo-shrike is nearly as big as a dove.  It utters constantly a curious harsh call.  It keeps much to the higher branches of trees in which it conceals, with great care, its saucer-like nest.

As we have seen, some coppersmiths and pied woodpeckers began nesting operations in February, but the great majority do not lay eggs until March.

The green barbet (Thereoceryx zeylonicus) and the golden-backed woodpecker (Brachypternus aurantius) are now busy excavating their nests, which are so similar to those of their respective cousins—­the coppersmith and the pied woodpecker—­as to require no description.  It is not necessary to state that the harsh laugh, followed by the kutur, kutur, kuturuk, of the green barbet and the eternal tonk, tonk, tonk of the coppersmith are now more vehement than ever, and will continue with unabated vigour until the rains have fairly set in.

By the end of the month many of the noisy rollers have found holes in decayed trees in which the hens can lay their eggs.  The vociferous nightjars likewise have laid upon the bare ground their salmon-pink eggs with strawberry-coloured markings.

The noisy spotted owlets (Athene brama) and the rose-ringed paroquets (Palaeornis torquatus) are already the happy possessors of clutches of white eggs hidden away in cavities of decayed trees or buildings.

The swifts (Cypselus indicus) also are busy with their nests.  These are saucer-shaped structures, composed of feathers, straw and other materials made to adhere together, and to the beam or stone to which the nest is attached, by the glutinous saliva of the swifts.  Deserted buildings, outhouses and verandahs of bungalows are the usual nesting sites of these birds.  At this season swifts are very noisy.  Throughout the day and at frequent intervals during the night they emit loud shivering screams.  At sunset they hold high carnival, playing, at breakneck speed and to the accompaniment of much screaming, a game of “follow the man from Cook’s.”