BIRDS, FLOWERS AND TREES.

The following birds, flowers and trees are mentioned in the text in the connection indicated:

BIRDS.

Cātaka: a kind of cuckoo, perhaps Luculus melanoleucus,—said to drink only drops of water as they fall from the clouds.

Cakravāka: Anas casarca,—pairs are said to sleep apart at night.

Crow: kāka, bāyasa, Corvus splendens,—messenger of separated lovers: also (LXXIII) an eater of leavings.

Garuḍa: a mythical bird, usually represented with a parrot's head and partly human body: the vehicle of Vishnu and the enemy of all serpents.

Koil or kokila: parabṛtaka, Indian cuckoo, Eudynamys honorata,—its cry is kuhu, kuhu, delightful to united, and distressing to divided, lovers. Its 'pancam-note' is the 'dominant' of Nature's chorus.

Parrot: kīra,—"Parrot noses are invariably associated with heroes and great men, while, among female figures they are to be seen only in images of Sakti." (A. N. Tagore, loc. cit.).

Partridge: cakora, Perdrix rufa,—said to feed on the rays of the moon.

'Peewit': pāpihā, the hawk-cuckoo, Hieroccyx varius,—its cry is piu, piu, 'Beloved, Beloved.'

Peacock: mayūra, Pavo cristatus,—delights in rain.

Wagtail: khañjana, Montacilla alba,—restless movement.

FLOWERS AND TREES.

Ashoka: Jonesia asoka,—herald of Spring.

Bandhūka: Pentapetes phœnicia (or Leucas linifolia?)

Betel: pān, tāmbūla, Piper betle,—leaves used for chewing.

Bimba: Momordica monadelpha (or coccinia?),—bright red fruit.

Gañja: Abrus precatorius, seeds used as jeweller's weights.

Honey-apple: bel, shrīphala, 'Bengal quince,' Aegle marmelos,—large round fruit.

Jasmine: several varieties are mentioned, as cameli, Arabian jasmine J. sambac; campak, Michelia champaka; mālatī, clove-scented jasmine, Aganosma caryophyllata (or perhaps J. grandiflorum); kunda, Indian jasmine, J. pubescens,—all mentioned for their scent.

Jujube: badarī, Zizyphus jujuba,—small round fruits.

Kadamba: Anthocephalus cadamba,—the haunt of Krishna.

Keshara: safflower, Crocus sativa,—a herald of Spring.

Kimshuk: Butea frondosa,—tree with beautiful flowers, a herald of Spring.

Labanga-vine: labaṅga-latā, Limonia scandens,—a herald of Spring.

Lotus and water-lily: many varieties are mentioned, as aravinda, and kamala which are day-flowering, and kubalaya and kumudini, which flower at night. We have used the names 'lotus' and 'water-lily' indifferently for all varieties.

Mādhavi: Gaertnera racemosa,—herald of Spring.

Mango: Mangifera indica,—tender shoots and herald of Spring.

Orange: naraṅga, Citrus aurantum,—round fruits.

Pātal: trumpet-flower, Bignonia suaveolens,—herald of Spring.

Pital: a yellow flower not identified.

Plantain: kerā, Musa paradisaica,—smooth straight stem.

Pomegranate, granate: dāṛima, Punica granatum,—white smooth seeds.

Shālmalī: silk-cotton tree, Salmaria malabarica,—the thorns are used in the tortures of hell.

Sandal: candana, Santalum album,—which affords a fragrant powder for the body, much appreciated, and hence stands for the best of anything.

Screw-pine: ketakī, Pandanus odoratissimus,—fragrance.

Shirīsh: Acacia sirissa,—tenderness.

Tamāl: Garcinia zanthochymus,—straight stem, dark leaves (the colour of Krishna).

Tāla: palmyra, Borassus flabelliformis,—round fruits.