244 



Our esteemed member, Mr. E. W. Harper, in 1902 

 loosed eleven specimens at Wimborne, in Dorsetshire, 

 which he had privately imported. Their fate is un- 

 known, excepting two, one being shot the other 

 drowned. 



Of the other species of this fine genus (none ot 

 which have, so far as I know, been yet imported to 

 this country), I shall content myself with a short des- 

 cription of picacoides, from Jerdon's " Birds of India." 

 * * * 



The Long-tailed Sibia. 

 M. picacoides. 

 Description : " Above, greenish fnscous, slightly darker on 

 "the forehead; lores, black; the wings, dusky, with a large 

 "white wing-spot formed by the middle third of the outer webs 

 " of four of the secondaries; tail dusky, with broad white tip ; 

 " beneath dark ashy, paler on the belly. Beak and legs black- 

 "ish; irides, red-brown. Length 14 inches, tail 8f." 



(The "2)aval BirO. 



{Copsychus saularis). 

 By Mrs. E. Warren Vhrnon. 



I have mentioned this bird before I think. As 

 cage bird he cannot be too higlily recommended. 

 Very like a Magpie in culouring, being a Ijlue black 

 with white under breast and on wings. Head, back, 

 and upper breast blue black, with a lovel}' blue sheen. 

 For impudence and cheek he fairly " takes the cake." 

 He sits on my hand holding to the loose skin, and at 

 the same time cursing me all the time, though leaving 

 off pecking me to greedily eat a mealworm. 



His song is lovely, like a Thrush's, only not so 

 loud. He loves a big bath and eats soft food, all kinds 



