90 Some Colony Birds. 



A high riiorny tree is generally chosen for their 

 colony; but not always so. At the Catholic Mission ground 

 at Morawhanna is a larg'e colony on a small mango tree. Do 

 these birds realize that the land all about is marshy and that, 

 in consequence, the tree is almost unapproachable? It would 

 seem so. 



By an infallible instinct these birds always choose a 

 tree on which marabuntas or fierce ants, or both, have already 

 established themselves. The marabuntas nests often hang 

 among those of the birds ; but there seems a perfect truce 

 between them. The male bird at home cuts a ridiculous 

 figure. Standing in a prominent place, he lowers his head 

 and tail, and ruffles u p the yellow feathers of his back and 

 all the while he cries in hollow tones: ''Just look at me\ 

 Just look at me\ DonH you admire'^. Am I not fineH'' He 

 waits a little while for admiration, and then begins again. 



He well deserves the name of Mocking-Bird, for there 

 is no bird in the forest he will not imitate, and thus often 

 deceives the sportsman and specimen collector. 



Some time ago in the North West District, I had occa- 

 sion during a missionary journey to spend a night at the Rest- 

 house at the mouth of the Baramani River. I had no sooner 

 showed myself at the window that I was subjected to a noisy 

 badinage from, as I supposed, a number of birds on a tree 

 close by. " /Y/, /;/! ah\ ah\ ya-ah\ What are you doing 

 therel" The voices seemed to say, "/ don^t like the look 

 of you at all\ Go away I We don't want you— aha^yah — yahl"^ 

 I looked in amazement. There was only one Yellow-Back, 

 perhaps some old bachelor, but he was skipping from branch, 

 to branch and pouring out his full vocabulary from different 

 coigns of vantage. 



The Yellow-Back makes an attempt at a song; but it 

 is more interesting than musical. There are mutterings and 

 splutterings, whisperings and gurglings, and occasionally a 

 full round note; but the whole is not inspiring. It is like 

 a clown trying to be sentimental. But he is worth domesticat- 

 ing on account of his beauty and knowing ways. One I 

 have now will do what in gymnastic language I must call the 



