330 



bird) . "'Vhen doctors differ, who shall decide ? But as 

 this species is generally known to avicnlturists as the 

 Chinese Zosterops, it is most convenient to call it by 

 that name— thoup.h I suspect that nearly all those which 

 reach our country come from India. All those which I 

 have possessed have appeared very sensitive to cold. 



The Grey-backed species {Z. cccrulescens) conies from 

 Australia, is slightly larger than the Chinese, and is dis- 

 tinguished, as its name implies, by its grey mantle. Some 

 few years ago this species was frequently seen at Shows 

 It is said to have a pretty song. 



The Japanese Spectacle-bird {Z. japonica) was 

 unknown to me until a few months ago,wlien I purchased 

 a pair. This is larger than the common species, aud the 

 sides of the body and flanks have a distinctly rudd}' 

 tint. My little Chinese bird, which I have had more 

 than a year, was so unfriendh' to the new arrivals when I 

 turned them into his aviar}-, that I had to remove 

 them to other quarters. It was comical to see him 

 driving these larger birds about. The cock of the 

 Japanese species has a pleasing song. 



At the Zoo, they have had examples of the New 

 Zealand bird, which they distinguished by the name of 

 Z. lateralis, but at the British Museum this appears to be 

 considered the same species as the Australian {Z. ccrrii- 

 lescens). 



One avicultural writer claims to have kept Zosterops 

 through the winter in an out door aviary. This may be 

 possible with the Australian or Japanese species, but 

 .scarcely with the smaller " Chinese " birds— which, as I 

 have said before, are usually Indian. My birds generally 

 show signs of discomfort if the temperature is below 55, 

 and a temperature of less than 50 is somewhat dangerous 

 to them. 



The Zosterops are particularly fond of a bath. 



These birds have a striking superficial resemblance 

 to the British trio of tiny Warblers, the Chiff-chaff, the 



