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and thereupon obtaining a deep, yet small glass, poured into it some milk 

 sop, mixed in the same way that all my, Lories have, and was amply 

 rewarded by seeing him hop down and placing his bill into the sop, suck 

 it down with great gusto, evidently greatly appreciating this addition to 

 his fare. Since then he has had some every day, very quickly, making 

 short work of it, and I am certain it is a good addition to his daily fare. 

 Apart from the abnormal length of his bill, " Rusty " is a taking bird. 

 Chaste, though his predominating colours are brown, the various shades 

 are nicely blended, his breast markings remind one of the breeding 

 plumage of our English cock Linnets. Song I should say he has none, .at 

 any rate he has not favoured me with any, but he possesses a most peculiar 

 shrill call note, shrill but not objectionable by any means. Very active in 

 his movements he would require a veiy large cage, at present he is flying 

 loose in a room with a number of other specimens. I should imagine that 

 lie would be an ideal aviar} - bird for he can easily hop, not fly from the 

 ground to a high branch, or vice versa, and bound straight away to another 

 branch three.or four feet away. He also loves to run along the ground and 

 at: times will sit i in a corner as still as he can be, looking like an ancient 

 philosopher wrestling with some deep problem of nature. He would make 

 an ideal pet for anyone who could afford the time to speak and play with 

 him, for. he shows great intelligence and is extremely pleased when one 

 •takes notice of him. I have too many, birds for individual petting, or else 

 ".Rusty " would be my chum, and should I part with him I shall certaiuly 

 miss him. 



[This fine species is not clad in gorgeous apparel, nevertheless his sober plumage is 

 very pleasing in its quiet and chaste harmony, and with its long, slender curved bill is both 

 striking and handsome. Its total length is n inches of which the bill measures ijaud the tail 4 

 inches. According to Jerd'oh and Oates it ranges over the whole extent of the Himalayas 

 from 2,000 to 10,000 and even 12,000 feet ; Khasi Hills, Bhamo, the pine forests of Salweeu 

 Valley, Thatoue, Tennasseiin. From the same authorities we learn that it is always found 

 in pairs, turning up the dead leaves on copeswood-covered banks ; it breeds in April and 

 constructs a domed nest on the ground, which is so cunningly blended with the surround- 

 ing matter as to be very difficult to find. Its mode of progress on the ground consists of 

 very rapid and prodiguous hops. It feeds almost entirely on insects. 



Description : . Upper surface olive brown ; forehead, ear-coverts, sides of the 

 thighs and tail coverts rusty-chestnut ; lores greyish white ; nioustachial stripe dusky- 

 black ; undersurface greyish-white, lightly washed on the breast with rusty-chestnut ; bill 

 bright horn colour ; legs and feet brownish flesh colour.— Ed.] 



* * * 



The Slate y-headed Scimitar Babbler. 

 1 am fortunate in possessing a true pair. They do not possess the long 

 curved beak of " Rusty," but their head markings greatly resemble those of 

 a Bunting. In the quickness of their movements, the sharp dart, the 

 brightness of their eye and perky call, they greatly resemble the Pekin 

 Robin, only they are a little larger. " Rusty " can move, but the " Slatey- 

 headed" are, to use a vulgar expression, like " greased lightning." Very 



