1. Birds whose general hue is earthy brown
(a) Those smaller than the sparrow
1. The Indian Tailor Bird ([28]). (This flits about among the leaves. The note is a loud to-wee, to-wee, to-wee. When the bird calls a small black band may be seen at each side of the neck. In the breeding season the two middle tail feathers of the cock grow over an inch longer than the others and project beyond them like bristles. A very familiar wren-like bird. The brown has a greenish tint.) 2. Sykes’s Tree-warbler ([29]). (Not unlike a solidly built wren, with a tail of average length, and not short like that of the wren.) 3. The Streaked Wren-warbler ([30]). (This is distinguished from other warblers by the fact that its upper plumage is streaked with dark brown.) 4. The Ashy Wren-warbler ([31]). (Makes a curious snapping noise as it flits about the bushes.) 5. The Indian Wren-warblers ([32] and [33]). (Slender and loosely-knit, and make no snapping noise.) 6. The Brown Flycatcher ([55]). (Characterised by its short tail and the fact that it constantly makes little sallies into the air after insects.) 7. (Hen) Indian Bush Chat ([63]). (Reddish brown. Cock quite differently coloured.) 8. The White-throated Munia ([76]). (Very thick bill, white throat and rump, and a note like the twitter of the sparrow; usually seen in small flocks.) 9. The Indian Sand-martin ([86]). (Swallow-like flight; nests in sandbanks.) 10. The Dusky Crag-martin ([87]). (Swallow-like flight; builds mud nest.) 11. (Hen) Sunbirds ([106]-[108]). (Pale yellow under parts, longish curved bill, sometimes hovers in the air on rapidly vibrating wings. Cocks gaily coloured.)
(b) The size of, or a little larger than, the sparrow
1. The Common Babbler ([6]). (A brown bird with a number of dark streaks. As it runs along it carries its tail along the ground, hence its name, “The Rat Bird.”) 2. The White-browed Bulbul ([22]). (Pale yellow patch under the tail, white eyebrow. It has a very cheery call.) 3. The Common Woodshrike ([38]). (Broad white eyebrow, outer tail feathers white; a pretty mellow note—tanti tuia.) 4. (Hen) Pied Bush Chat ([61] and [62]). (Reddish brown, with black tail; cock more strikingly coloured.) 5. The Brown Rock Chat ([64]). (Robin-like in habits; continually bobs its head.) 6. (Hen) Indian Robins ([67] and [68]). (Brick-red patch under tail. Tail often carried erect.) 7. Weaver Birds ([70]-[73]). (Stout bill. Cock becomes showy in breeding season.) 8. (Hen) Rose Finch ([80]). (Two white bars in wing.) 9. Yellow-throated sparrow ([81]). (Yellow patch on throat.) 10. (Hen) Common Sparrow ([82]). 11. The Grey-necked Bunting ([83]). (Thickish bill, some dark streaks in plumage and white in tail.) 12. (Hen) Black-headed Bunting ([84]). (Dull yellow under parts and bright yellow patch under the tail.) 13. The Pipits ([95] and [96]). (Longish legs; dark streaks in plumage. Feed on ground, but take refuge in trees when disturbed.) 14. The Larks ([97] and [98]). (Feed on ground; never perch in trees; some soar in the air and sing.) 15. The Bush Larks ([99] and [100]). (Distinguished from the true larks in perching in bushes when they sometimes take short flights into the air. Distinguished from the pipits in having no white in the tail.) 16. The Crested Larks ([101]-[103]). (Feed on ground; sing in air; never perch in bushes. Crested heads; no white in tail.) 17. The Common Wryneck ([112]). (Woodpecker-like habits. It twists its head from side to side continually. Its plumage is much streaked, speckled, and spotted.) 18. The Spotted Owlet ([135]). (Plumage much spotted and barred with white. Eyes in front of head. Comes out at sunset and sets up a loud chuckling chatter. Legs feathered to the toes.) 19. The Scops Owl ([138]). (Differs from the Spotted Owlet in having “horns” or ear-tufts. Note a single hoot, which is repeated regularly at intervals of about ten seconds.) 20. The Jungle Owlet ([139]). (Distinguished from the Spotted Owlet by its call and by the fact that it is far less often seen.) 21. The Kentish Plover ([185]). (White collar. Found in flocks on the sea coasts.) 22. The Little Ringed Plover ([186]). (Like the Kentish Plover, but distinguished from it by having a black band across the white throat.) 23. The Little Stint. (Wading birds, which occur in large flocks on shallow water.)
(c) About the size of a myna
1. The Jungle Babbler ([7]). (An untidy-looking bird, which goes about in small flocks of half a dozen, feeding on the ground; very noisy; flight feeble.) 2. The White-headed Babbler ([8]). (As above, but the crown of the head is greyish white. Found only in S. India.) 3. The Rufous-tailed Babbler ([9]). (Habits like those of the two species just cited; tail has a reddish tinge.) 4. The Common Indian Nightjar ([126]). (Plumage much mottled; crepuscular in its habits; it flits about at dusk hawking insects.) 5. Horsfield’s Nightjar ([127]). (A large edition of above.) 6. The Common Hawk Cuckoo ([128]). (Plumage much barred, like that of a bird of prey. Its loud crescendo call, a reiterated “brain-fever,” has made it familiar to all.) 7. The Shikra and the Sparrow-hawk ([158] and [159]). (Ashy grey birds with dark cross-bars to the feathers.) 8. The Common Quail ([171]). (A good deal smaller than a myna; legs short; plumage much barred with black. Lives exclusively on the ground.) 9. The Sandpipers ([192]-[194]). (Long-legged birds with white under parts and short tails, which occur in marshes or at the water’s edge.)
(d) Large birds. Bigger than a crow
1. The Common Grey Hornbill ([121]). (A large brownish-grey bird with long tail and big beak.) 2. The Malabar Grey Hornbill ([122]). (Like the above, but found chiefly on the west coast.) 3. The larger Owls ([136] and [137]). (Much barred and spotted. Night birds, with the eyes forwardly directed.) 4. The great majority of Birds of Prey ([140]-[162]). (Plumage usually much barred.) 5. The Grey Partridge ([174]). (Plumage much barred. Does not perch in trees; runs very fast; characteristic call.) 6. The Stone Curlew ([180]). (Black streaks in plumage, some white in wings and tail; legs and bill yellow.) 7. The Curlew ([189]). (A wading bird. Long curved bill.) 8. The Whimbrel ([190]). (A small edition of the Curlew.) 9. The Pond Heron ([124]). (Found at the water’s edge. Flight transforms it into a milk-white bird.) 10. The Night Heron ([225]). (Head black. Its cry “wāāk” is heard at sunset.) 11. The Grey-lag Goose ([227]). (Bill and legs dirty pink.) 12. The Sirkeer Cuckoo ([131a]). (Bill red. About the size of the House-crow.)