163



once, and could hardly be called an improvement. Possibly there may be

some suitable native name with which we are not acquainted.


The title “ Rufous-chinned Laughing-Thrush ” I have taken from

the London Zoological Society’s Report lor 1900; and following this name

I find mentioned the “Western Yellow-winged Laughing-Thrush” and the

“Slaty-headed Scimitar Babbler.” These truly are dreadful names, but

they convey a certain amount of meaning, and should not be rejected

without good reason.


To return to Trochalopterum rufigulare, the title “Laughing-Thrush”

is a little deceptive if my two birds are fair representatives of the species.

Excepting when handled, the female has so far been mute. The male goes

about chuckling to himself in a scarcely audible tone as he gathers

nesting materials or hunts for insects and seeds, and occasionally utters a

low scolding note; hut he is exceptionally quiet, and never whistles or

sings after the pleasing manner of some of the Laughing-Thrushes; that

is, he never laughs outright, but keeps all his little jokes to himself. The

word “seed ” I use tentatively, for I can only say positively that they are

rather fond of oats, which they shell by means of powerful blows with the

bill, swallowing only the kernel.


Totally unlike the Sibias, the}’' are very fond of the ground, never

running but progressing by hops and bounds; and the speed with which

they can scuttle over the ground and about the thickets is astonishing.

My pair, by the way, are building in an elder bush ; but the Sibias seem

more shy, and have not progressed beyond the kissing stage.


Reginald Phieeipps.



SICK GOULDIAN FINCHES.


Sir,—I shall be very glad if you will kindly help me as to the

treatment of a Gouldian Finch.


Last Wednesday I received a pair from London, freshly imported

birds I expedt. I was delighted with them, as they were the healthiest and

spriglitliest birds I have ever seen come off a journey. They are both in

perfedt plumage. I have kept them for one day in a wooden cage, and then

turned them into a large cage, full of Parson Finches, Grass Finches, and

other smaller birds.


They were quite peaceable for a day, hut I noticed the cock beginning

to look puffed out, and getting worse daily. Finally I had to remove

them, as he was bullied by a Parson cock. Now he sits all day hunched on

a perch, and has begun to make a noise with his hill, like a person grinding

his teeth. I do not know what causes this, but always consider it an

ominous symptom.


They are fed on canary seed and white and spray millet, and have

coarse river sand and cuttle-fish bone. I gave them bay salt yesterday, and

the hen ate a little; but I have not seen the cock touch it. They are in a

room without a fire, but with an even temperature of about 54 or 55 degrees.

I may mention that I got a Long-tailed Grassfinch hen at the same time

and she remains perfectly well.



