oil the genus Zosteropis.



75



bush or low-growing scrub. Both parents take part in the work of

incubation but not simultaneously, each therefore is able to cater

for itself, and consequently there is no need for the cock to feed the

hen on the nest.


The songs of these birds are not loud but are pleasing:

Campbell describes that of the Australian species as a soft, sweet

chattering warble, as if singing inwardly or to itself; Buss says

that the song of the Indian species resembles that of the Grass-



Photo by Geo Lowe



hopper warbler; my Chinese bird sang a Cicada-like trill, Dr.

Brauns says that the Japanese species sings not very loud, but

charmingly : the call-note is a tiny staccato chirp, which I rendered

tsip-tsip-tsip in the case of Zosterops simplex ; it reminded me some¬

what of the note of our gold-crest.


Zosterops has been accused of being an orchard pest, because

it ruins a certain amount of fruit, such as cherries for instance, by

piercing the pulp with its bill; but if it does take toll of the fruit,

no doubt it more than pays for it in the scale-insects and other

forms of blight which it devours : on this ground therefore it un¬

questionably deserves protection.



