H3 



Natives of India keep Bulbuls for fighting purposes. These 

 birds are not caged but are tied to a cloth-covered perch by a 

 piece of fine twine attached to the leg of the captive. 



The Otocoinpsa Bulbuls, commonly known as Hill Bulbuls 

 are most alluring birds, being exceedingly sprightly editions of 

 the Red-vented species. 



Their most striking characteristic is the perkiest of crests, 

 which terminates, like Mr. Punch's cap, in a forwardly-directed 

 point. The crest gives the bird a very saucy air. The wings and 

 tail are dark brown. Under the tail there is a crimson patch, so 

 characteristic of Bulbuls. Just below each eye there is a simi- 

 larly coloured but much smaller patch of long crimson feathers, 

 whence the proper English name of the bird — the Red-whiskered 

 Bulbnl. The lower part of the cheek is white and is divided off 

 from the breast by a thin black line. The white breast is, in its 

 turn, separated from the greyish underparts by a broad black 

 necklace or collaret. Ornithologists divide the Red-whiskered 

 Bulbuls into two species — Otocompsa emeria ; the Bengal Red- 

 whiskered Bulbnl and O. fuscicaudata, the Southern Red-whis- 

 kered Bulbnl. The former occurs in Northern India and the 

 latter in the South. The Northern variety is distinguishable 

 from the Southern variety by having white tips to its feathers and 

 the dark necklace interrupted in the middle. 



Just as there are Molpastes with a yellow instead of a 

 crimson patch of feathers under the tail, so is there an Otocompsa 

 with yellow under parts. This is the commonest Bulbnl in the 

 Himalayas, and is known as Otocompsa flaviventris , or the Black- 

 crested Yellow Bulbnl. 



The Southern Red-whiskered Bulbnl is the common Bul- 

 bnl of all the hill-stations of S. India, which it enlivens by its 

 cheery song. The habits of the Otocompsas are those of the 

 Molpastes. 



No account of the Indian Bulbuls would be worthy of the 

 name if it did not include Pycnonotus luteolus, the White-browed 

 Bulbnl, a bird which is abundant in every Madras garden and 

 hedgerow. This differs so greatly in appearance from the Bulbuls 

 already described that it is difficult to believe that it belongs to 

 the same family. It possesses none of the smartness which 



