122 Two Interesting Oriental Birds


rainy season, but gradually leaves as the country dries up, a few

only staying behind to pick up a precarious living. Similarly the bird

is by no means rare in Natal in the autumn and winter, when it may

be seen almost invariably in flocks, consisting entirely of either male

or female birds. Towards spring they appear to migrate to the north,

although in that province apparently, as in the Transvaal, some

individuals are resident throughout the year. These facts point to

tropical Africa as the original home of the species.


Their food consists principally of berries and other small fruit

and insects, particularly the flying termites, which are captured on

the wing. The nest is made in holes in trees or other natural hollows,

which are lined with wool and feathers, over which green leaves,

periodically renewed, are placed. The usual number of eggs is four.


R. I. P.


TWO INTERESTING ORIENTAL BIRDS


Mr. J. D. La Touche, who has recently returned from Yunnan, kindly

brought for the Zoological Society two birds, which have certainly

never previously been exhibited in the Gardens, and have probably

never before been imported to Europe alive. One is the so-called

Finch-billed Bulbul (Spizixus canifrons), which earns its trivial name

from its short, thick, almost shrike-like bill, very different from that

of the typical Bulbuls. It is, indeed, very doubtful if the bird is in

reality a Bulbul, although commonly classified with them. Mr. E. W.

Gates suggests that its position will probably be found hereafter to be

among the Sibias and White-eyes. The crest on the head is long and

thick, and the nostrils are partially concealed by small feathers.

Three species only appear to be known, two of them inhabiting China,

while the third, the one under notice, occurs in Yunnan and the hills

of Assam. It has the forehead and front part of the crown ashy-

grey — whence the name canifrons — the rest of the crown and lores

black, the cheeks blackish with greyish-white tips to the feathers ;

the ear coverts pale-brown ; sides of the neck streaked with black ;

throat very dark brown : upper plumage and wing coverts green ;

the wings dark brown, with the outer webs greenish-yellow ; the

tail also is greenish-yellow, with the tip black ; the underside yellow



