430 Mr. F. Finn on the 



Family Die rurid^e. 



Only one bird of this family is commonly kept here — the 

 Bhimraj [Dissemurus paradiseus) ; but few specimens are 

 brought iuj and these are hand-reared birds in poor con- 

 dition, which seldom live long, as they require — but do not 

 usually get — a very large cage. This species is, as Jerdon 

 3orrectly remarks, an excellent mimic. I have even heard 

 that it will occasionally talk, and I have myself known one 

 individual that could imitate the song of a canary to per- 

 fection, and also mew like a cat ; while another with which 

 I am at present acquainted not only possesses the latter 

 accomplishment, but whistles two or three lines of a song 

 with absolute accuracy of execution. 



The Kesraj [Chibia hottentotta) is sometimes on sale, 

 but is not popular, so far as I know; the Dhouli {Dicrurus 

 C(Brulescens) is occasionally to be procured, and is said to 

 whistle very well. 



Family L a n i i d ^. 



The Indian members of this family are hardly ever caged 

 here, though some consignments of Minivets (Pericrocotus 

 speciosus and P. brevirustris) have arrived but have not 

 thriven. 



The Australian Crow-Shrikes or Magpies [Gymnor/nna 

 leucunota and G. tibicen) are, however, not unfrequently 

 imported; they thrive well and fetch good prices on account 

 of their well-known whistling and talking abilities. I lately 

 saw a specimen in the possession of Mr. Rutledge which 

 had pale grey on one side of the back and black on the other 

 this was, I presume, a hybrid between the two species. 



Family ORioLiDvii. 



Orioles are not generally kept, and the few that are to 

 be seen do not thrive well, especially the common Oriolus 

 melanocephalus. O. trailli bears confinement far better than 

 the yellow species, being less restless. It also looks very 

 different from them in life, as it keeps the head-feathers 



