Sir R. H. Schomburgk on the Birds of Siam. 263 



seen them in their native wilds ; but even when caged they are 

 lively, jumping from perch to perch, their movements accom- 

 panied by a twittering noise. 



I no longer admit them to my small aviary, as such would 

 be signing their death-warrant ; and when they are brought as 

 a present to me, I accept them, but let them go free. 



34. MuNiA PUNCTULARIA, (Nock kail-tit.) 



This pretty little bird, so nicely marked on its breast and ab- 

 domen, almost Partridge-like, lives along the banks of the canals 

 which intersect the fields round Bangkok and other places. It 

 constructs its nest in the grass. While the name of the Par- 

 tridge is " Kah-tah," this little one is " Kah-tit," no doubt 

 from the marking of its feathers. 



35. TuRDUs, sp. 



A species of Thrush visits occasionally our gardens. I have 

 heard its song, and although it caiuiot be compared with our 

 European Throstle, it is nevertheless agreeable. It reminded 

 me more of the notes of the Thrushes in Guiana and the West 

 Indies than of our Throstle. The bird generally selects a tree 

 as a favourite resort, and there it returns every morning for 

 some time, but not for any lengthened period. 



36. Francolinus pictus. (Nock kahtah.) 



This beautiful bird is sometimes brought alive in cages to 

 Bangkok, where they fetch handsome prices. Their general 

 resorts are the rice-fields and pasture-grounds, which they fre- 

 quent in flocks. I have been told that at night they retire to 

 trees, and there they make their nests. I cannot vouch for this 

 assertion ; but since our own Partridge selects sometimes a tree 

 for nidificatibn, such may be the case with the " Nock kahtah." 

 When surprised while on the ground, they rise with a whirrmg 

 noise similar to our Partridge. They are caught by a decoy 

 bird; however, they are not frequently found in cages at Bang- 

 kok ; and I believe that those which are brought here soon 

 perish : such has been the case with those which I have had 

 in my possession. I found them plentiful at Aughiu, on the 

 eastern coast of the Gulf of Siam, and my huntsman brought 

 them frequently as an addition to my breakfast or dinner. 



