BIRDS.
Cātaka: a kind of cuckoo, perhaps Luculus melanoleucus,—said to drink only drops of water as they fall from the clouds.
Cakravāka: Anas casarca,—pairs are said to sleep apart at night.
Crow: kāka, bāyasa, Corvus splendens,—messenger of separated lovers: also (LXXIII) an eater of leavings.
Garuḍa: a mythical bird, usually represented with a parrot's head and partly human body: the vehicle of Vishnu and the enemy of all serpents.
Koil or kokila: parabṛtaka, Indian cuckoo, Eudynamys honorata,—its cry is kuhu, kuhu, delightful to united, and distressing to divided, lovers. Its 'pancam-note' is the 'dominant' of Nature's chorus.
Parrot: kīra,—"Parrot noses are invariably associated with heroes and great men, while, among female figures they are to be seen only in images of Sakti." (A. N. Tagore, loc. cit.).
Partridge: cakora, Perdrix rufa,—said to feed on the rays of the moon.
'Peewit': pāpihā, the hawk-cuckoo, Hieroccyx varius,—its cry is piu, piu, 'Beloved, Beloved.'
Peacock: mayūra, Pavo cristatus,—delights in rain.
Wagtail: khañjana, Montacilla alba,—restless movement.