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restless birds, they are constantly on the hop. In the centre of the room 

 where they are flying is a fairly large tree, and the distance from the 

 branches to the window is roughly speaking about four foot. The window 

 is covered with half-inch wire netting. The Babblers jump, not fly, from 

 tree to window, back again and from floor to highest branch without any 

 apparent exertion, and yet withal when placed in a small show cage they 

 are quite steady and like " Rusty," quite fearless. They are very curious 

 and although on the hop constantly, very little escapes their notice. To 

 prove this one has only to throw some mealworms upon the floor, down 

 swoop the Babblers close to your feet, and the mealworm issoon disposed of. 

 The three Babblers are very chummy and roost near one another. All are 

 in splendid condition, and have never ailed anything while iu my possess- 

 ion. The Slatey-headed are treated just the same as '• Rusty " and all my 

 soft bills, and their health proves they are faring rightly. On the floor of the 

 room I have placed a box of soil, and in their perambulations along the 

 floor, hopping in preference to flying, and digging the soil with their beaks, 

 one comes to the conclusions that they are ground birds. I cannot say if I 

 am correct. 



I should be glad if our esteemed editor will quote a detailed descrip- 

 tion of their plumage. 



I should like to say that the sketches accompanying this article 

 should be faithful likenesses of both species, at least the sketches Mr. 

 •Goodchild made in my birdroom are faithful in every detail. 



According to Oates this fine species is found throughout the Himalayas from Simla to 

 •Sadiya, and the hill-tracts of Eastern Bengal, Tipperah, Cacach, and Manipur to Arrakaii. 

 Its habits are similar to those of erythrogenys. They are usually found iu pairs. The nest 

 is placed on the ground and similarly hidden, the eggs are white, usually four in number, 

 the breeding season is from April to June; their natural food consists almost entirely of 

 insects. 



It differs materially from erythrogenys, it is of smaller size, the bill is shorter and not 

 so curved. 



Description : Upper surface dark olive -brown ; forehead, crown and nape, slatey ; 

 lores, eye region, and ear coverts black ; a white band stretches from the nostrils to the 

 nape above the eye; chin, cheeks, throat, breast and abdomen white; sides of neck and 

 breast and abdomen ruddy-chestnut ; under tail coverts dusky-brown ; bill yellowish-horu 

 colour; legs and feet dark brownish flesh colour. 



At the end of October I had the opportunity of observing these birds in Mr. Millsum's 

 bird-room and their bounding hops both on and from the ground and from branch to 

 branch are truly prodigious. They are, i.e. both species, full of character, appear to be 

 fairly amiable and are certainly an ornament to any series of birds of similar capacity. 

 Though fairly well known they aie very uncommon, almost rare, on the English 

 market.— Ed] 



