428 Mr. F. Finn on the 



many recommendations as pets, especially in the case of the 

 former. 



Most esteemed, perhaps, is the Chinese Jay-Thrush 

 [Dryonastes sinensis), which is only known here as an 

 mported bird and under its Chinese name of PeliO. It is a 

 very fine songster and an excellent mimic. A few arrive from 

 time to time and find a ready sale. I know of a very good 

 specimen which is at least 14 years old and certainly shows 

 no signs of age. Another Chinese bird of this type, and 

 similarly imported in small numbers, is the Huamei 

 ( Trochalopterum canoruni), also much pi-ized as a songster. 



Some common Indian Jay -Thrushes, Garrulax leucoloplius, 

 G. albiyularis, G. pectoraUs, G. moniliger, Grammatoptila 

 striata, lanthocincla rufiyidaris, and one or two others, are 

 pretty regularly brought down in the winter, especially the 

 first-named, which is in some demand for export. 



Other Babblers which also arrive in consignments from 

 the hills are Pomatorhinus schisticeps, P. erythrogenys, and 

 Lioptila capistrata, and, among the smaller species, Mesia 

 argentavris, Siva cyanurojitera, and Yuhina nigriinentum. 

 None of these, however, come into the market in any 

 quantity. 



The charming little " Pekin Robin " {Liothrix lutea) is 

 numerously imported in winter — generally from China — and 

 hence is almost always to be procured. Zosterops simplex is 

 also a very common captive, and attempts are sometimes made 

 by Bazaar dealers to pass it off as a " Humming-bird " ! 



Chloropsis aurifrons, well known as the Hareiva, is often 

 on view, and is one of the most delightful of cage-birds, 

 being easily kept, and possessing the recommendation of 

 being a very clever mimic as well as very ornamental. If 

 hand-reared, it is very tame ; but individuals vary much 

 in temper, and some are quite impossible companions for 

 any small bird, while others are perfectly peaceable. As the 

 sexes are so much alike in this species, I have not been able to 

 discover the reason of this difference of disposition, wdiether 

 it be personal or sexual. The fine Chloropns hardwickii is 

 comparatively scarce, and C jerdoni is seldom to be had, 



