THE OSPREY. 



123 



matoptila striata, Ianthocincla rtifigularis, and 



one or two others, are pretty regularly brought 

 down in the winter, especially the first-nanied, 

 which is in some demand for export. 



Other Babbler.- which arrive in consignments 

 from the hills are Pomatorhitius schisticeps, P. 

 erythrogenys, and Lioptila capistrala, and, among 

 the smaller specie-. Mesia argentauris, Siva 

 cyanuroptera and Yuhina nigrimenlum . None 

 of these, however, come into the market in any 

 quantity. 



The charming little "Pekin Robin" [Liotkrix 

 lutea) is numerously imported in winter — gener- 

 ally 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 Hum- 

 mingbird"! 



Chloropsis aurifrons, well known as the 

 Harewa, is often on view, and is one of the 

 most delightful 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 individual- 

 vary much in temper, and .-nine are quite im- 

 possible 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 differ- 

 ence of disposition, whether it be personal or 

 sexual. The fine Chloropsis hardwickii is com- 

 paratively scarce, and ( '. jerdoni i- seldom to be 

 had. 



The species of Chloropsis are often called 

 Green Bulbuls. but they cannot be placed far 

 from ASgithina tiphia. obviously a small Bab- 

 bler, which is sometimes kepi here Ibut rarely, 

 being a delicate species). It is locally known as 

 "Totik." Another small Timeliine form occa- 

 sionally on sale is the Gulab-Chasm (red-eye) 

 [Pyctorhis sinensis) a most amusing little bird, 

 very impudent, and mischievous when in com- 

 pany with others. 



< if the true Bulbuls, the common Molpastes 

 bengalensis is by far the most popular captive. 

 It i- not so often caged, however, as tethered to 

 an iron y-shaped perch padded with cloth, the 

 Cord being' fastened to a soft string round it- 

 body. This is to further its employment as a 

 fighting bird, that being the purpose for which 

 it is kept. Two individual- are marie hungry, 

 and then their jealousy is excited by offering 

 food to one only, which of course provokes a 

 fight. The sport i- carried on during the winter, 

 after which the birds are released, with the ex 

 ceptioii of such as have proved worthy of main- 

 tenance for the future. 



This i- the only species employed in such a 

 way. but several other Bulbuls may lie seen 

 caged, especially the almost equally abundant 

 Otocompsa emeria. (K flainventris come- to 

 hand occasionally in -mall numbers, and some- 

 times considerable supplies id' Molpastes leueotis, 

 J/, leucogenys, and the Chinese Pycnonotui 

 sinensis arrive, but these cannot be reckoned on. 



A few example- of Hypsipetes psaroides, 

 Hemixus Jlavala, and //. macclellandi have been 

 brought down in the winter of late year.-. 



Before leaving the Crateropodidse, I should 

 mention that a few specimens of the splendid 



Myiophoneus temmincki have passed through 

 Mr. Rutledge's hands, and that lately my friend 

 Mr. E. W. Harper secured from him a fine im- 

 ported specimen of the Chinese .'/. cesruleus, 

 which he has sent to the London Zoological 

 Gardens. But undoubtedly the members of this 

 genus were wrongly placed in tlii- family, being 

 certainly true Thrushes. The distinction be- 

 tween them and the Babblers is perfectly obvi- 

 ous to any bird-keeper or field-naturalist, how- 

 ever hard it may be to make out from skin-. 



FAMILY DICRURID 1 . 



Only one bird of this family is commonly kept 

 here- the Bhimraj [Dissemurus paradiseus); but 

 few specimens are brought in. and these are 

 hand-reared birds in poor condition, which 

 seldom live long, as they require — but do not 

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

 as Jerdon correctly remark-, 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 perfection, 

 and also mew like a cat: while another with 

 which I am at present acquainted not only pos- 

 -e--es the latter accomplishment, but whistles 

 two or three lines of a song with absolute accu- 

 racy of execution. 



The Kesraj (Chibia hottentotta).\s, sometimes 

 on sale, but is not popular, so far as I know; the 

 Dhouli (Dicrurus ccerulescens) is occasionally to 

 be procured, and is said to whistle very well. 



i \ M ii.v i. ami let-;. 



The Indian member- of this family are hardly 

 ever caged here, though some consignments of 

 Minivet- (Pericrocotus speciosus and P. breviros- 

 lris\ have arrived but have not thriven. 



The Australian Crow-Shrikes or Magpies 

 {Gymnorhina leuconota and 6'. libicen) are. how- 

 ever, not unfrequently imported; they thrive well 

 and fetch good prices on account of their well- 

 known whistling and talking abilities. I lately 

 saw .1 specimen in the possession of Mr. Rut- 

 ledge which had pale grey on one side of the 

 1 iack and black on I lie other; this was, I presume, 

 a hybrid between the two species. 



FAMILY ok'IciI.Ili.V. 



Oriole- are not generally kept, and the few 

 that are to be seen do not thrive well, especially 

 the common Oriolus melanocephalns. <>. trailli 



bear- confinement far better than the yellow 

 specie-, being le-- re-tle--. It al-o looks very 

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

 feathers erect, and has a more upright carriage. 

 in addition to its striking light-yellow hide-. 

 The eyes of the young bird- are. however, dark 

 brown. 



( To be Continued.) 



