Indian Birds 



ing reeds, heads of millet, stout grass stems, or 

 perhaps more frequently to a forked branch. 



11. Myiophoneus horsfiddi : The Malabar 

 WhistHng Thrush, or Idle Schoolboy. (F. 1 89), 

 (J. 342), (+IIL) 



A black bird with large cobalt blue patches 

 on the forehead and the wings. Small patches 

 of the same hue occur on other parts of the 

 body. 



Not found in the N.W. Frontier Province, 

 the Punjab, United Provinces, Bengal, or the 

 eastern portion of Madras. Usually occurs in 

 the neighbourhood of shaded streams. Its 

 note is a striking whistle. 



12. Zosterops fal-pebrosa : The Indian White- 

 eye, or Spectacle Bird. (F. 226), (J. 631), ( - I.) 



A greenish yellow bird, with bright yellow 

 throat and a patch of yellow under the tail. 

 The rest of the lower plumage is greyish 

 white. The most noticeable feature of the 

 bird is a ring of white feathers round the eye. 

 Hence its popular name. White-eyes go about 

 in large flocks ; they feed largely on insects 

 which they pick from off the leaves of trees. 

 Each individual utters unceasingly a cheeping 

 note. At the nesting season, which is usually 

 at the beginning of the hot weather, the cock 

 98 



