Lamghanat in the heats when mulberries ripen ; it is not there at other times. It is of many, many kinds. One sort is that which people carry into those (Tramontane) countries. They make it speak words. Another sort is smaller ; this also they make speak words. They call it the jungle-parrot. It is numerous in Bajaur, Sawad and that neighbourhood, so much so that 5 or 6oco fly in one flock {khait). Between it and the one first-named the difference is in bulk ; in colouring they are just one and the same. Another sort is still smaller than the jungle-parrot. Its head is quite red, the top of its wings {i.e. the primaries) is red also ; the tip of its tail for two hands'-thickness is lustrous.1 The head of some parrots of this kind is iridescent (susam). It does not become a talker. People call it the Kashmir parrot. Another sort is rather smaller than the jungleparrot ; its beak is black ; round its neck is a wide black collar; its primaries are red. It is an excellent learner of words. We used to think that whatever a parrot or a sharak {mind) might say of words people had taught it, it could not speak of any matter out of its own head. At this juncture 2 one of my immediate servants Abu'l-qashn Jalair, reported a singular thing to me. A parrot of this sort whose cage must have been covered up, said, " Uncover my face; I am stifling." And another time when palkl bearers sat down to take breath, this parrot, presumably on hearing wayfarers pass by, said, " Men are going past, are you not going on ? " Let credit rest with the narrator,3 but never-the-less, so long as a person has not heard with his own ears, he may not believe! Another kind is of a beautiful full red ; it has other colours ^also, but, as nothing is distinctly remembered about them, no description is made. It is a very beautiful bird, both in colour and form. People are understood to make this also speak words.4 Its defect is a most unpleasant, sharp voice, like the drawing of broken china on a copper plated
1 Ar. ban-aq, as on f. 278* last line where the Elph. MS. has barraq, marked with the tashdid.
- This was, presumably, just when Babur was writing the passage.
3 This sentence is in Arabic.
4 A Persian note, partially expunged from the text of the Elph. MS. is to the effect that 4 or 5 other kinds of parrot are heard of which the revered author did not see.
5 Erskine suggests that this may be the looiy (Lorittthts vemaJis, Indian loriquet).
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