THE GENUS CHLOROPSJS. -Vj 



If the eggs arc closely examined they too prove to be of typical 

 bulbul's character ; and I think that almost any one, not knowing 

 ■what they were, would unhesitatingly declare them to belong to an 

 individual of the Sub-fam. ^rachypoditim. 



I have one clutch of eggs of C. hanUciclcii that can be matched by 

 many eggs of Mypsipetes coneolor, agreeing with them both in size 

 and general colouring ; another clutch of eggs (C. aurifrons) is very 

 like some eggs of A/ucunis .striatus now in my possession, and like the 

 latter eggs the markings are of a more decided brown tinge than is 

 common amongst bulbuls' eggs. 



In texture the eggs differ in no way from the common kinds of 

 bulbuls' eggs, that is to say, they are fairly close-grained and 

 smooth, showing little or no gloss, and are, in proportion to their size, 

 rather fragile. 



I have ventured these few notes, not for a moment under the 

 impression that I am an authority on the subject, but because 

 I have had, what I believe to be, very exceptionable opportunities of 

 watching this genus in a state of nature, and because every trait that 

 I have noticed leads me strongly to the belief that these birds are 

 true bulbuls ; whether worthy of a sub-family to themselves or not, 

 I leave it for better ornithologists to determine. 



I must also observe that I cannot help thinking, that it is both 

 more natural and convenient to classify birds by their external 

 characteristics taken in conjunction with their habits — nidification 

 especially — than to assign them a place in a system worked out almost 

 entirely on the internal structure of the bird. Again, the latter system 

 entails immense extra labour, as in a dry skin the internal parts 

 are wanting, and in dried, carbolized specimens, they are generally 

 mutilated and incomplete, thus entailing the necessity of the orni- 

 thologist obtaining his own specimens for the work of classification, 

 a matter not only of great difficulty, but often absolutely impossible. 



In conclusion, I think I may say that as regards this genus in 

 life, it shows stronger affinities to the Sub-fam. Braehpodinw than to 

 any other, that in its external characteristics many points confirm 

 this connection, whereas they shew no strong reason for dividing 

 them from the Sub-fam., with the one exception of the different 

 coloration of the sexes. 



