4 2 



and so is the Ortolan. The Reed Bunting and Yellowhamnier 

 are quite worth keeping. The Cirl Bunting I think we must 

 call the most delicate of all though it is quite one of the most 

 interesting:. 



Ilvoo IRare Birfts. 



By Mrs. E. Warren Vernon. 



RUBY-THROATED WARBLER. 



Mr. Page gave the description of these lovely birds in 

 March issue. The extreme length of leg is most curious, and 

 this, combined with their love of water, makes one fancy they 

 must live near streams. Mine is in immature plumage having no 

 black patches or markings yet. He is very like a Nightingale in 

 colour with a bright Robin-like eye. Sings almost incessantly a 

 regular Warbler-like song ; very loud and with a good variety of 

 notes. He is one of the tamest birds I have had ; comes out 

 each day for his bath and returns at once to his cage to dry and 

 preen his plumage. 



Diet : Soft food, some boiled rice, sultanas, mealworms, 

 and flies. He will not eat fruit. 



I put him into a large cage with some other peaceful 

 birds, but he was so miserably frightened and uncomfortable 

 that I returned him at once to the enjoyment of his own cage. 



THE GREY BULBUL. 



This rare bird is of a dirty grey-green colour, and is most 

 unattractive, save for his lovely song. It sounds like water 

 bubbling, and makes you think of hot days and cool running 

 streams gurgling over little rocks. He sings practically all day, 

 and is a very quiet and well ordered bird, hardly moving at all 

 from one spot. His somewhat sombre plumage is varied with a 

 little white over each eye, and a pale yellow patch under throat, 

 but at present he is not in good plumage, and giving a descrip- 

 tion is not an easy matter. 



Diet : Fruit, soft food and mealworms ; the latter he is 

 very fond of and cleverly catches them in the air. 



Very amiable and gentle with other birds. 



