Page:The Common Birds of Bombay.djvu/99

Rh catalogue may be found typified in some beast or bird. So I hold. And if this be true, then the phase of character which is expressed by the Babbler is jolly-goodfellowism. Not being acquainted with the method of distilling spirits, it does not pass the flowing bowl, but a large portion of its life is devoted to al fresco eating parties, in which the excitement of finding the viands is combined with the pleasure of consuming them, and the utmost conviviality prevails. These parties are not too large for true sociality. They consist of about half-a-dozen, whence the popular name of the bird. There is no distinction of host and guest: all are equal. They begin under some tree where the leaves have fallen thick, and proceed as humour leads. Each helps himself to what he can find, turning over the dead leaves and pouncing on any tempting morsel that tries to hurry away. If one is lucky and lights on a particularly fat lot, his neighbours come to his aid, and there is a good-humoured squabble over the partition of it. There is a regular flow of small talk, a good deal of mirth and laughter, occasionally an eager dispute, but never a quarrel. "Fighting?" says Phil Robinson, "Not at all; do not be misled by the tone of voice. That heptachord clamour is not the expression of any strong feelings. It is only a way they have." They will light for each other, but not with each other. Woe to the sparrow hawk that thinks to make a prey of any one of that party. Only a rash young fool would attempt such a thing, and it will be taught wisdom. But. though the Babblers dine together, they do not live together. Each pair makes its nest apart, affecting great secrecy and deluding the egg-collector with mingled impudence