मृगपक्षी-शास्त्र (हंसदेव - १३वीं शती का अमर भारतीय वन्यजीव, पक्षी एवं प्राणि-विज्ञान)

and small. Some are white, black and some whitish black. Their beaks,
legs, and ends of their wings would be of some other colour. They
have small beaks, a little stout bodies and broad wings. They are fond
of living in water. They are afraid of going to strange places. They will
not live collectively. They live in their nests alone in the rainy season,
but, very fond of seeing the clouds and rain. They spend their time
by eating bits of flesh and fruits in the rainy season. They will collec-
tively help one another when they are attacked by another kind of birds.
[1st variety of CHATAKA BIRDS]
(CHATAKA)
These varities of birds are called Chataka birds. They are very
small in size. They are black, red or blackish red. They drink always
the rain water and are healthy. As per a Sage's curse, they do not
drink the water on the face of the earth owing to the fear of being
unhealthy. Therefore, they live, generally, in the high places as, the
tops of the mountains, and tall trees wherever there are clouds They
would, ever, be looking at the sky with mouths wide open for rain.
Sometimes they will be with their female birds on the shade of the
branches of trees. They will collectively fly very high in the sky.
They are very good to all birds. They are happy and healthy in the
rainy season
[2nd variety of CHATAKA BIRDS]
(STOKAKA)
These kinds of birds are called Stokaka birds. They are very
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