The nest hole was capacious, its dimensions being roughly 1 foot by 1 foot by 2 feet.  From the bottom five handfuls of pieces of dry bark were extracted.  Three white eggs were found lying on these pieces of bark.  The sitting hen resented the “nest-breaking,” and, having pecked viciously at the intruder, tried to escape by climbing up to the top of the nest hole.  She was dragged out of her retreat by the beak, after an attempt to pull her out by the tail had resulted in all her tail feathers coming away in her captor’s hand!

The young green parrots have all left their nests and are flying about in noisy flocks.  They may be distinguished from the adults by the short tail and comparatively soft call.

Most pairs of hoopoes are now accompanied by at least one young bird which is almost indistinguishable from the adults.  The young birds receive, with squeaks of delight, the grubs or caterpillars proffered by the parents.  Occasionally a pair of hoopoes may be seen going through the antics of courtship preparatory to raising a second brood.

In scrub-jungle parties of partridges, consisting of father, mother and five or six little chicks, wander about.

As the shades of night begin to fall family parties of spotted owlets issue from holes in trees or buildings.  The baby birds squat on the ground in silence, while the parents make sallies into the air after flying insects which they bring to the young birds.

The peafowl and sarus cranes are indulging in the pleasures of courtship.  The young cranes, that were hatched out in the monsoon of last year, are now nearly as big as their parents, and are well able to look after themselves; ere long they will be driven away and made to do so.  The display of the sarus is not an elaborate process.  The cock turns his back on the hen and then partially opens his wings, so that the blackish primaries droop and the grey secondary feathers are arched.  In this attitude he trumpets softly.

The water-hens have already begun their uproarious courtship.  Their weird calls must be heard to be appreciated.  They consist of series of kok, koks followed by roars, hiccups, cackles and gurgles.

Black partridges, likewise, are very noisy throughout the month of May.  Their nesting season is fast approaching.

Even as April showers in England bring forth May flowers, so does the April sunshine in India draw forth the marriage adornments of the birds that breed in the rains.  The pheasant-tailed jacanas are acquiring the long tail feathers that form the wedding ornaments of both sexes.

The various species of egret and the paddy bird all assume their nuptial plumes in May.

In the case of the egret these plumes are in great demand and are known to the plumage trade as “ospreys.”