MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 415 



genera the shafts of the forehead are somewhat elongated, but there is no 

 mention of the long hairs from the nape, nor of the lengthened shafts of the 

 cheeks and chin. Is this a characteristic of the whole genus Geocichla or 

 only of the above species ? 



C. M. INGLIS. 

 N'arhar, Madhup.ani, 28th November, 1898. 



No. VII.— BIRDS TAPPING AT WINDOW-PANES. 



The European species of Yellow Wagtails are well known to have the 

 habit of tapping at window-panes. Our common Ceylonese wagtail {^Buty- 

 des viridis) has the same habit strongly developed, and is often a great 

 nuisance by its incessant tapping at the bungalow windows. Another bird 

 has just now commenced the same trick. The window-tapper in this case 

 is the common Indian Tailor-bird {Orthotomus fiutorius). This (presum- 

 ably) same individual has been persistently attacking the windows on one 

 side of my bungalow for the last two or three months. It perches on 

 the sill, apparently takes aim, and then gives a rapid series of prods against 

 the pane, varying the performance occasionally by fluttering and scrabbling 

 against the glass, 



I caught one of the wagtails in a butterfly net, as it was going through 

 this performance. I found the end of its beak quite blunted and worn down 

 by long continued indulgence in this extraordinary habit. 



Has any really satisfactory explanation been brought forward ? I have 

 heard it suggested that the birds are pecking at flies; but there have been 

 no flies on the windows in the cases that I have observed. They certainly 

 do not want to get into the room, as, when that particular window is opened 

 to admit the tapper, it only flies off and attacks another window. Another 

 suggestion is, that the bird is attacking its own reflection under the impres- 

 sion that it is a rival. Its attitude and action is certainly more in accord- 

 ance with this idea. But when once commenced, it seems to become 

 a craze, impelling the bird to return to the attack agnin and again. The 

 wagtail that is at present on duty at my bungalow always goes through 

 the same tactics. It parades along the guttering for a short time then 

 laimches itself downwards against the bottom pane of the glass, getting in 

 three or four rapid pecks before it gravitates to the sill. Then it returns to 

 its promenade on the gutter, and repeats the motion until it has exhausted 

 the patience of the occupants and been driven away. From its position 

 on the gutter it can scarcely, if at all, see its reflection in the glass. 



It would be interesting to know if any other birds indulge in this habit 

 — or madness, 



E. ERNEST GREEN. 

 Pdndalnoya, Ceylon, August, 1898, 



