Indian Birds 



These are all untidy-looking, earthy-brown 

 birds about the size of mynas. They go about 

 in little flocks, whence the name " Seven 

 Sisters," or " Sath Bhair They feed largely 

 on the ground, seeking for insects among dead 

 leaves. While feeding they keep up a constant 

 chatter which every now and then grows very 

 loud, sounding like a combination of a squeak 

 and the groans of a revolving axle that requires 

 to be oiled. They continually jerk the tail, 

 which has the appearance of being very loosely 

 inserted. So untidy-looking are these birds that 

 Eha likens them to " Old Jones, who spends the 

 day in his pyjamas." Their flight is feeble and 

 laborious. Three species are common : 



7. Crater of us canorus : The Jungle Babbler. 

 (F. no), (J. 432), (III.) 



This bird is abundant in Northern India, 

 and becomes rarer in the south, where it is 

 largely replaced in the plains by the two next 

 species. (Illus. B. C, p. 15.)* 



* At Allahabad the Large Grey Babbler (Argya malcomi) 

 (F. 107) or Gangaii is more abundant even than C. canorus. 

 It may be recognised by its long tail. The three outer pairs 

 of tail feathers are white — very conspicuous during flight. 

 The note is a loud harsh quey, quey^ quey. The bird is 

 commoner than I thought. It occurs in most districts of 

 the U.P. 



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