73 cm

Abb.: कालकण्ठकः । Pseudibis papillosa Temminck, 1824 - Black Ibis - Warzenibis, Hodal - होडाल, Haryana
[Bildquelle: J. M. Garg / Wikimedia. -- GNU FDLicense]

Abb.: दात्यूहाः । Pseudibis papillosa Temminck, 1824 - Black Ibis - Warzenibis, Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh
[Bildquelle: J. M. Garg / Wikimedia. -- GNU FDLicense]

61 cm

Abb.: आतायी । Milvus migrans Boddaert 1783 - Pariah Kite (Black Kite) - Schwarzmilan
[Bildquelle: Gould, Birds of Great Britain, 1862 - 1873]

Abb.: आतायी । Milvus migrans Boddaert 1783 - Pariah Kite (Black Kite) - Schwarzmilan, Hyderabad - హైదరాబాదు, Andhra Pradesh
[Bildquelle: J. M. Garg / Wikimedia. -- GNU FDLicense]

Abb.: आतायी । Milvus migrans Boddaert 1783 - Pariah Kite (Black Kite) - Schwarzmilan, Kolkata - কলকাতা, West Bengal
[Bildquelle: J. M. Garg / Wikimedia. -- GNU FDLicense]

"Habitat. Throughout India. A resident scavenger. Breeds on house tops, old mosques, and flat-roofed buildings, seldom on trees, during January, February, and March. It occurs also in Beloochistan, Afghanistan, and Nepal." [Quelle: Murray, James A.: The avifauna of British India and its dependencies. -- London : Trübner, 1888-1890. -- 2 Bde. -- Bd. 1, S. 57.]

"The common Indian Kite is very closely related to M. ater of Europe, and was considered the same by Mr. Blyth in his Catalogue. It is, however, now recognised as distinct. It extends through all India, Burmah, and Malayana, but in China appears to be replaced by a very closely affined race, M. melanotis, Tem. and Schl. It is one of the most abundant and common birds in India, found at all elevations up to 8,000 ft. at least, especially near large towns and cantonments, and its vast numbers and fearlessness are among the first objects that strike the stranger from England, where birds of prey are so rare. Every large town, cantonment, and even village, has its colony of Kites, which ply their busy vocation from before sunrise to sometime after sunset. Every large camp, too, is followed by these useful scavengers, and the tent even of the single traveller is daily visited by one or more, according to the numbers in the neighbourhood. As is well known. Kites pick up garbage of all kinds, fragments of meat and fish, and generally the refuse of man's food. When a basket of refuse or offal is thrown out in the streets to be carted away, the Kites of the immediate neighbourhood, who appear to be quite cognizant of the usual time at which this is done, are all on the look-out, and dash down on it impetuously, some of them seizing the most tempting morsels by a rapid swoop, others deliberately sitting down on the heaps along with crows and dogs, and selecting their scraps. On such an occasion, too, there is many a struggle to retain a larger fragment than usual, for the possessor no sooner emerges from its swoop, than several empty-clawed spectators instantly pursue it eagerly, till the owner finds the chase too hot, and drops the bone of contention, which is generally picked up long before it reaches the ground, again and again to change owners, and perhaps finally revert to its original proprietor. On such occasions there is a considerable amount of squealing going on. The vast numbers of these Kites in large towns can hardly be realised by strangers. Capt. Irby mentions having seen one hundred together, but in Calcutta and elsewhere two or three hundred may be seen at one time. They are excessively bold and fearless, often snatching morsels off a dish en route from kitchen to hall, and even, according to Adams, seizing a fragment from a man's very mouth ; and several anecdotes illustrative of this are told by different observers, —vide Blyth, Sykes, Adams, and Burgess. At our sea ports many Kites find their daily sustenance among the shipping, perching freely on the rigging, and, in company with the Brahminy Kite, which rarely enters towns, snatching scraps of refuse from the surface of the water. Away from the haunts of man, some seek their reptile or insect food over the fields and hedgerows, or, with the Brahminy Kites, hunt the edges of tanks, rivers, and marshes, for frogs, crabs, and fish. The flight of the Indian Kite is bold, easy, and graceful when once mounted aloft, though somewhat heavy on first taking wing ; and it soars slowly about, in greater or less numbers, in large circles. When in pursuit of another Kite it is capable of considerable speed, and shows great dexterity in suddenly avoiding any obstacle, and changing its course ; in this, its long tail is, of course, a great help. Occasionally one may be seen dropping down almost perpendicularly from the top of a house on a piece of offal in a narrow street, but, in general, it reaches the ground from a height by a series of oblique plunges. Now and then one will seize a chicken or wounded bird of any kind, and Mr. Blyth mentions that he once knew one to kill a full-grown hen. Mr. Phillips says it is "a very cowardly bird ; for though it will carry off parrots and chickens, it is yet afraid of the crows and sparrow-hawks. It will allow crows to pull to pieces a bit of meat before it, which it is evidently desirous to obtain." This hardly accords with my observation ; for though it is in general on sufficiently good terms with the crows in company with it on a heap of garbage, yet I have frequently seen it pursue a crow, and force it to relinquish some coveted morsel. Blyth, too, mentions that he had been told on good authority that a kite will sometimes seize a crow. The crows, however, often tease a kite, apparently without any object, but that of a little amusement to themselves. The food of the kite is usually devoured on the wing, or, if too large, carried to the nearest house or tree. Mr. Blyth notices their collecting in numbers without any apparent object, especially towards evening. This I have frequently observed at all large stations, where the whole kites of the neighbourhood, before retiring to roost, appear to hold conclave. They are said to leave Calcutta almost entirely for three or four months during the rains. I have not noticed this at other places. As remarked by Buchanan Hamilton, they may often be seen seated on the entablatures of buildings, with their breast to the wall, and wings spread out, exactly as represented in Egyptian monuments. The Kite breeds from January to April, beginning to couple about Christmas, and great is the squealing going on at this time, more felino. Their cry is a prolonged tremulous squeal, whence the Indian name Chil (Cheel). The nest is made of sticks, often lined with rags, and placed on trees, or on houses and other high buildings, more rarely on rocks ; and  the eggs, two or three in number, are generally dirty or greenish white, with or without a few pale brownish or rusty blotches." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 1. -- S. 105ff.]

2.9.52. Geier - Vultures

Colebrooke (1807): "A vulture."

"Habitat. A native of Europe. Found on the lofty mountains of Italy, the Tyrol, and also in Africa. In India it affects the hilly ranges of Central India, Guzerat, Sind, Beloochistan, Persia, Afghanistan, Punjab, N.-W. Provinces, Oudh, Bengal, Rajpootana, Central India, Kutch, Tennaserim, and the Nepal Valley. In the Himalayas it is fairly abundant ; also in Assam and Bhootan. There is no positive information as to the breeding of this Vulture in India, but from facts collected by Mr. A. O. Hume and recorded in his "Rough Notes on Indian Ornithology and Oology," it is probable that it breeds in the Himalayas from January to March. The Rev. H. B. Tristram, "Ibis," 1865, and Mr. C. Farman give interesting particulars of its nidification in Central Bulgaria and Palestine. In the Pyrenees it is said to lay two eggs, varying from a more or less pure white with scarcely any trace of markings, to a reddish or fulvous white, richly marked with reddish brown ; in shape a very blunt slightly pyriform oval ; texture coarse and rough ; size 3.48 x 2.75 inches." [Quelle: Murray, James A.: The avifauna of British India and its dependencies. -- London : Trübner, 1888-1890. -- 2 Bde. -- Bd. 1, S. 4.]

"This fine Vulture is found, though rarely in the Himalayas, occasionally descending to the plains. I saw it at Saugor in Central India, and also at Mhow. It is found in the lofty hill ranges of Southern Europe and N. Africa." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 1. -- S. 7.]

"Habitat. This is spread nearly all over the continent of India and not unlike V. monachus affects the hilly districts in Sind. It is a permanent resident wherever it occurs. Nest varies from 2 1/2 to 4 feet in length and breadth, with usually a lining of leaves. It lays a single egg, pale greenish white, spotted or unspotted with purplish ; generally a round oval, varying in size from 3.2 inches to 3.5 in length, and from 2.45 to 2.8 inches in breadth. It is said to breed on inaccessible cliffs from January to April." [Quelle: Murray, James A.: The avifauna of British India and its dependencies. -- London : Trübner, 1888-1890. -- 2 Bde. -- Bd. 1, S. 9.]

"The Black Vulture is found commonly throughout India, extending into Burmah, but is by no means abundant in individuals. It is usually seen solitary, or in pairs, occasionally four or five together, hunting over some rocky hill. It is dreaded by the other common vultures. Gyps Indicus and G. Bengalensis, who always give way to one of these black vultures, as recorded by Buchanan, Hamilton, and Blyth, and as I have frequently witnessed ; hence its Indian name of King Vulture. It is said usually to breed on inaccessible cliffs, but Lieutenant Burgess found its nest on two or three occasions on trees, with a single white egg." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 1. -- S. 8.]

"This fine Vulture is nearly confined to the Himalayan ranges in India. In Europe it frequents the mountains of the Alps and Pyrenees, extending into Northern Africa and Western Asia. It breeds on rocky cliffs, laying only one egg, which is said to be sometimes white, with a few reddish spots ; at other times richly marked with red. Salvin says it is a cleanly, docile, and good-tempered bird." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 1. -- S. 9.]

"This is the most common Vulture of India, and is found in immense numbers all over the country, extending into Assam and Burmah, (and said to be also found in Africa,) congregating where ever any dead animal is exposed. At Calcutta one may frequently be seen seated on the bloated corpse of some Hindoo floating up or down with the tide, its wings spread, to assist in steadying it, and as soon as it has finished its repast, giving place to another. I have seen one washed off in mid-stream, and flap its way to shore. It walks and even runs with facility, though awkwardly. It breeds by preference on rocky cliffs, but also not unfrequently on large trees, laying usually one dirty white egg. Capt. Hutton, J. A. S., VI., gives an interesting account of a young one he reared from the nest." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 1. -- S. 11.]

"Habitat. Himalayas, Bhootan, Afghanistan, Nepal. Breeds in January, February, and March. Mr. Hume says, the nest is a huge platform of sticks placed on a rocky ledge of some bold precipice in the Himalayas at least 3,000 feet above the sea. It lays a single egg, larger than that of any of the other Indian Vultures, oval, or a broad oval, the ground colour being of the usual greenish or greyish white of all the true Vultures, unspotted or richly blotched and mottled chiefly towards the small end with brownish red. Size 3.78 x 2.8 inches to 3.98 x 2.85 inches." [Quelle: Murray, James A.: The avifauna of British India and its dependencies. -- London : Trübner, 1888-1890. -- 2 Bde. -- Bd. 1, S. 6.]

"Habitat. The Indian Peninsula, Burmah, Nepal, Siam and the Malayan Peninsula. Ajmere and Mount Aboo are places where this species has been known to breed from December to March on inaccessible and precipitous cliffs. Eggs vary in length from 3.48 to 3.9 inches in length and from 2.62 to 2.85 in breadth, larger than those of G. Bengalensis ; texture finer, as a rule unspotted pale greyish or greenish white, thinly spotted or blotched with pale reddish brown and purplish brown." [Quelle: Murray, James A.: The avifauna of British India and its dependencies. -- London : Trübner, 1888-1890. -- 2 Bde. -- Bd. 1, S. 7.]

"This Vulture is found over all India, more rarely towards the south, and then chiefly near mountains. It is very abundant in Burmah. It does not in general enter towns and villages like the next species. It is not rare on the Neilgherries, and breeds on some of the cliffs on their northern face, also on the cliffs bounding the valley in which are situated the celebrated caves of Ajanta." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 1. -- S. 10.]

"Habitat. Throughout India and a permanent resident. Breeds from February to April on cliffs, old mosques, &c., seldom on trees, making a rude nest of twigs, lined with rags, &c. Eggs variously coloured, the ground colour usually a dirty white, blotched and smeared with reddish brown, or marked all over with deep red, with blotches at the larger end." [Quelle: Murray, James A.: The avifauna of British India and its dependencies. -- London : Trübner, 1888-1890. -- 2 Bde. -- Bd. 1, S. 10.]

"This well-known bird is abundant throughout the greater part of India, being more rare in Central and Northern India and unknown in Lower Bengal. As is well known in India, its chief food is human ordure, and some of its popular names signify this. It also partakes of carrion, but its feeble bill is less qualified for this kind of food. It walks with ease, stalking about with a peculiar gait, lifting its legs very high ; and it also runs with facility. It breeds on rocky cliffs, also on large buildings, pagodas, mosques, tombs, &c., and occasionally on trees. It forms a large nest of sticks and rubbish, often lined with old rags, and lays generally two eggs, sometimes white, with a few rusty brown spots, at other times so richly covered with them as to appear quite red, with a few liver-brown blotches. This Vulture is preserved in Egypt, where it goes by the name of Pharoah's Chicken. It is common throughout the North of Africa, Western Asia, and even the South of Europe, a straggler finding its way to England now and then." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 1. -- S. 12f.]

2.9.53. Psittacidae - Sittiche und Papageien - Parakeets

Colebrooke (1807): "A parrot"

53 cm

"Habitat. Lower Himalayas to Sikkim, the forests of Malabar, Central and South India, Northern Circars, Carnatic, Deccan, Punjab, British Burmah, and Cochin-China. Breeds during January and February in holes of trees which the birds excavate for themselves, and lay 3 - 4 white eggs, long ovals, pointed towards one end, and from 1.5 to 1.52 x 0.95 inch in size. Generally found in small colonies." [Quelle: Murray, James A.: The avifauna of British India and its dependencies. -- London : Trübner, 1888-1890. -- 2 Bde. -- Bd. 2, S. 466.]

"The Alexandrine Parrakeet is found in the Lower Himalayas, in the forests of Malabar, also in the hilly region of Central India, and the northern Circars. It is occasionally found in parts of the Carnatic; but it is not till you get far north, that it is at all common. It is by no means confined to hill regions, for I have found it breeding in a grove of trees in the Deccan, not far, however, from some low hills ; and it often comes into the open country to feed, but generally returns at night to the hills or jungles. It is said to be the ordinary Parrakeet of the Punjab, and was thence, doubtless, taken to Europe by Alexander ; but Adams says it is not so common there as the next species. It is abundant in Ceylon, and in Northern Burmah. This species is not nearly so common in the south of India, as the next ; and the first time I became aware of its occurring in the extreme south, was finding one dropped by a Shahin (Falco peregrinator), which I fired at in an open space in the jungles of Malabar. It feeds both on fruits and grain, and sometimes returns great distances to roost in trees near the hills. At such times it flies at a great height. The call of this species is full and rich. It breeds in the cold weather, December and January, in holes of trees, and lays usually four white eggs." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 1. -- S. 257.]

42 cm

"Habitat. Throughout India, part of Burmah, Ceylon, Punjab and Sind ; extends to the lower Himalayas, Upper Pegu, and Nepaul. Occurs abundantly in the Concan and Deccan, Kutch, Kattiawar, Jodhpore, and N. Guzerat. Breeds throughout India in colonies. Eggs, pure white, 4 in number." [Quelle: Murray, James A.: The avifauna of British India and its dependencies. -- London : Trübner, 1888-1890. -- 2 Bde. -- Bd. 2, S. 467.]

"The Rose-ringed Parrakeet is found over all India, from the foot of the Himalayas to the extreme south and Ceylon, but it is rare to the east of the Bay of Bengal. It is found in other parts of western Asia, and throughout tropical Africa. It is one of the most common and familiar birds in India, frequenting cultivated ground and gardens, even in the barest and least wooded parts of the country, and it is habitually found about towns and villages, constantly perching on the house top. It is very destructive to most kinds of grain, as well as to fruit gardens. Burgess says that they carry off the ears of corn to trees to devour at leisure, and I have observed the same sometimes. When the grains are cut and housed, it feeds, on the ground, on the stubble corn fields, also on meadows, picking up what seeds it can ; and now and then takes long flights, hunting for any tree that may be in fruit, skimming close to and examining every tree ; and when it has made a discovery of one in fruit, circling round, and sailing with outspread and down-pointing wings, till it alights on the tree. It associates in flocks of various size, sometimes in vast numbers, and generally many hundreds roost together in some garden or grove. Mr. Layard has given an interesting account of the roosting of this species in Ceylon. At Saugor all the Parrakeets, Mynas, Crows, Bee-eaters, &c., of the neighbourhood, for some miles around, roost in company in a large grove of bamboos ; and the deafening noise heard there from before sunset till dark, and from the first dawn of day till long after sunrise, give to the listener the idea of numberless noisy steam-machines at work. Many of the flocks of Parrots are very late in returning, and fly along quite low, skimming the ground, and just rising over a tree, house, or any obstacle in the way, and, for several nights in succession, several Parrakeets flew against the wall of a house, on the top of a hill in Saugor, and were killed. It breeds both in holes in trees, and very commonly, in the south of India, about houses, in holes in old buildings, pagodas, tombs, &c. Like the last, it lays four white eggs. Its breeding season is from January to March. Adams states that "he has seen this Parrakeet pillage the nests of the Sand Martin ; but with what intent, he does not guess at. Its ordinary flight is rapid, with repeated strokes of the wings, somewhat wavy laterally, or arrowy. It has a harsh cry, which it always repeats when in flight, as well as at other times. Mr. Philipps remarks that the Kite will sometimes swoop down on them when perched on a tree, and carry one off in its talons ; also that owls attack these birds by night." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 1. -- S. 258f.]

36 cm

"Habitat. Throughout India, extending into the Himalayas and Assam, also Ceylon. On the Malabar Coast it is extremely common ; also on the Eastern Ghauts, the Carnatic, Northern Circars, Central India, Midnapoor, and Lower Bengal. Breeds, according to Hume, throughout the plains of Continental India, high up on Mount Aboo, also throughout the salt range and the lower ranges of the Himalayas, up to heights of from 4,000 to 5,000 feet, from Murree to the Ganges. They commonly lay in April, excavate holes for themselves, and lay from 4 to 6, pure white, but rather soiled, glossless eggs, varying in length from 0.9 to 1.05 inches, and in breadth from 0.75 to 0.86 inch." [Quelle: Murray, James A.: The avifauna of British India and its dependencies. -- London : Trübner, 1888-1890. -- 2 Bde. -- Bd. 2, S. 468.]

"The Rose-headed Parrakeet is found more or less through all India, extending into the Himalayas, Assam, Burmah, and Ceylon. It is common in the Malabar coast, and on the Eastern Ghats, in jungles in the Carnatic, also in the forests of the Northern Circars and Central India, Midnapoor, and Lower Bengal. It frequents jungly districts in preference to the more open parts of the country ; but occurs in all the more richly-wooded cultivated districts, and it generally visits those parts of the country that are tolerably wooded, during the rains. It usually breeds in the jungles, but I have found its nest in my own garden at Saugor. It has similar habits to the others, feeding on fruits and grains, which it picks off the standing corn, or in the stubble-fields, off the ground. It is less noisy, and has a much more pleasant call than the last. Its flight is very swift indeed, much more so that of the two last. It breeds in holes of trees, from December to March, and has usually four white eggs. Vast numbers are taken in all parts of the country where it breeds, and are sold for caging, especially in Calcutta, where many are carried off by the shipping annually. Hence, no doubt, China and other countries where these birds have been seen in captivity, have been erroneously given as habitats for this, as well as sundry other Psittacidae." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 1. -- S. 260.]

41 cm

"Habitat. The lower ranges of the Himalayas as far as Darjeeling, Assam, Sylhet and Arracan. Occurs also in abundance throughout British Burmah. Breeds throughout the Himalayas south of the first snowy range at heights of from 4000 to 7000 feet. The majority, according to Hume, lays during the latter half of March and April. They nest in holes of trees excavated by themselves, making the egg chamber deep and large. Eggs generally 4 - 5 in number, pure white and glossless, often much soiled. In length they vary from 1.08 to 1.17 inch, and in breadth from 0.89 to 0.94 inch." [Quelle: Murray, James A.: The avifauna of British India and its dependencies. -- London : Trübner, 1888-1890. -- 2 Bde. -- Bd. 2, S. 467.]

"This Parrakeet is found throughout the lower ranges of the Himalayas, rare in the South-east, for I never saw it myself, and got but one young specimen whilst at Darjeeling. It is, however, found in some of the hill ranges in Assam or Sylhet, for Tytler obtained living specimens at Dacca. Adams says : "its favorite food is seeds of wheat, apricots and pomegranates ; very noisy and gregarious." It is closely allied to P. rosa; but larger, with a plum-blue instead of a peach-coloured cap." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 1. -- S. 261.]

38 cm

"Habitat. The sub-Himalayan region as far as Kumaon, extending into Assam, Sylhet, Arracan, the whole of British Burmah nearly, and southward to the Malay Peninsula and Java. It has been procured in some parts of Lower Bengal as Goruckpore and Rungpore. It affects well-wooded districts, and is usually found in small flocks, till the rice is nearly ready for cutting, when they descend to the fields in large numbers and cut the ears of corn. They breed on the tops of lofty trees, in holes and crevices, during March and April. The eggs are dull glossless white in colour, as are those of all the species. The young are taken before they are able to fly and sold in the markets ; they are much prized by the natives as being good talkers, and easily taught to repeat long sentences, and incantations." [Quelle: Murray, James A.: The avifauna of British India and its dependencies. -- London : Trübner, 1888-1890. -- 2 Bde. -- Bd. 2, S. 465.]

"This Parrakeet is found in the sub-Himalayan region, and, it is said, in the Rajmahal hills; but I think this is somewhat doubtful, and it certainly does not extend into Central India. Out of India it is abundant in Assam, Sylhet, Arakan, and Tenasserim, extending into the Malay peninsula and Java. In some part of Lower Bengal, as in Gorruckpore and Kungpore, it visits the plains, when the rice is ripe, in large flocks. It is brought to Calcutta, caged, in great numbers, from Tipperah, (Chittagong), and other places to the East, &c., and is rather a favorite with the natives. Its call is much more agreeable than that of torquatus, or Alexandri. At Thyet-myo in upper Burniah, in ]May, I observed large flocks of what I presume was this species, though the only specimens I obtained were in immature plumage. They were feeding on the ground on cow-dung, on the dry bed of the Irrawaddy. Blyth observed this species and P. rosa exceedingly numerous in upper Martaban." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 1. -- S. 263f.]

"Habitat. The sub-Himalayan region, Assam, Sylhet, Sikkim, Eastern Bengal, Bhootan and the Andamans, British Burmah, the Deccan, Palani hills, Khandalla ghauts, the jungles of Malabar, Travancore, and the Southern Mahratta Country. Over all these places it is found in small flocks. It is said by Jerdon to be fond of drinking the toddy of the cocoanut palm, and to be sometimes caught stupefied from the effects. They are much prized as cage birds, and are sold as Love birds. The birds breed wherever they are found, laying 3 - 5 eggs in holes and hollows of trees. Eggs dirty white, and entirely glossless. Size 0.7 to 0.75 in length and 0.58 to 0.6 in breadth." [Quelle: Murray, James A.: The avifauna of British India and its dependencies. -- London : Trübner, 1888-1890. -- 2 Bde. -- Bd. 2, S. 464.]

"This pretty little Lorikeet is found in the Sub-Himalayan region, and in the jungles of Malabar; but in no intervening part of the country, that I am aware of. Mr. Blyth, in his catalogue, has mentioned a specimen from the Rajmahal hills ; but with a query, and it was probably a caged individual. It is also found abundantly in Assam, Sylhet, and Burmah. I have only found this species in open spaces of the forests in Malabar, occasionally coming into well-wooded gardens near the coast. It is most numerous in Travancore and South Malabar, becoming rarer towards the North. Mr. Elliot, however, mentions it as visiting Dharwar, above the Ghats, during the rains only. It is found in small flocks, and keeps up a continual chirping when feeding, which it does on fruit and flower-buds, partly probably for the nectar contained in the latter. It is said to be fond of the toddy of the cocoanut-palm, and to be sometimes taken stupified at the toddy-pots ; and I have had them brought me alive at Tellicherry, said to have been taken in that situation. They are occasionally caged, and become very tame, sleeping with their heads downward. Great numbers are often to be seen in the shops of the Calcutta bird-dealers. They are popularly known as "Love-birds;'' a name which is also applied to the birds belonging to Agapornis of Africa, Psittacula of S. America, and to the small Trichoglossus pumilus of Australia." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 1. -- S. 265f.]