noon
First came forth the gaudy butterflies fluttering from flower to flower , till every shrub had a rainbow-coloured mass hovering over it . Bees full of industry flew abroad , and glittering beetles crawled along the moist grass , then crows , chattering paroquets , and long-legged cranes took to the wing , while the jungle-cock , the dial-bird , the yellow oriole , the grass warbler , and bronze-winged pigeons sent their varied and ringing notes through the forest . Then as the sun arose , the bulbul and the sun-birds were seen quivering in thousands over the nectar-giving flowers of the field . As the heat increased towards noon again all were silent , and fled away panting to seek for coolness beneath the shade of the forest . At this time we also sought shelter in some ruined temple or rest-house , or we had our tents pitched under the shadow of some lofty tree . Once more towards evening the birds took to the wing , the wild animals hurried out to the tanks , and streams , and water-courses , and then moths and numberless night-feeding animals came out to seek for their prey . At length we reached a plantation which we were told belonged to Mr Coventry .