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Hubert D. Astley,



a rich, iridescent violet-blue colour, while the female as described is

greenish brown-grey above, and greenish yellow beneath. Both sexes

were seen, but the male more frequently.


The Red-whiskered Bulbul was seen and positively identified

a short distance from the entrance to the Caves of Elephanta ; on a

few other pccasions identification was not so certain. The Common

Bulbul was found in several places, but nowhere so plentiful as on

Mount Abu, where it appeared to be the most abundant species, even

outnumbering the Common Myna. These two species were the only

Bulbuls of which I made sure, although India boasts of fifty other

species of them ; and of Babblers there are eighty-three, of which

I saw but two, the Common or Striated Babble ( Argya caudata) and

the Jungle Babble (Crateropus canorus). The last-named species,

very inconspicuous in its ashy brown plumage, with its ground-haunting

proclivities, would not be so easy of identification as one might suppose,

if it were not for its habit of flocking in small parties of five, six, or

seven birds which affords a clue to their identity, confirmation o£

which may be had from almost any guide, since these birds are

commonly known to the natives by the very appropriate name of the

Seven Sisters, or the Seven Brothers.


The Indian Tree-pie (Dendrocitta rufa), a bird eighteen inches

in length, is certain to arrest one’s attention by its pleasing display

of colours and its long tail. Its metallic whistle is fully as musical

as the call notes of the Bronzed Crackle, nor has it a better reputation,

since it is well known as a destroyer of both birds and their eggs.



HYBRID BARRABAND AND QUEEN ALEXANDRA

PARRAKEETS.


By Hubert D. Astley, M.A.


I have two hybrid Barraband (Polytelis barrabancli ) x Queen

Alexandra Parrakeets ( P. Alexandrce —nr as it was ridiculously named,

Spathopterus Alexandrce ; thereby separating this latter species from

its true genus of Polytelis, merely because the male happens to have



