on the Yellow- or Golden-eyed Babbler. 85


corner by the door is, this time of the year, too dark for the bird

to select what it wants, but, as I advance into the light, it picks

out the choicest piece of grape, and flies off with it. This is the

Brown-eared Bulbul, Hemixus flavala, referred to at p. 185 of

Vol. VIII. But while this bit of by-play has been going on, my

little friend with the Golden Plye has been coming towards me,

tripping and flicking, turning now this way then that, along a

long perch, about on a level with my face. It cpiietly comes on to

the rim of a saucer and, like the Bulbul, chooses a piece of grape,

which it carries off to some secluded corner where, holding it

in one foot, it discusses it at its leisure. It does not swallow the

portion of grape whole like the Bulbul, but carefully picks out

the fleshy part from the skin. Jerdon says, “ It feeds mostly on

insects, often on ants and small coleoptera.”


In the wild state, this species is common over the greater

part of India, and ranges eastward into Burma, etc., a kindred

species with black nostrils, P. nasalis, being found in Ceylon.

Common as it is, however, Mr. Harper tells us that it is not a

favourite cage-bird in India, and this is doubtless the reason why

it so seldom finds its way to this country.


According to Jerdon, our present subject with the yellow

nostrils is not a bird of the hills, but “ frequents low jungles, or

the skirts of forests, long grass, hedge-rows, and even comes

occasionally into gardens. ... it is generally seen in small

parties of five or six, flying from bush to bush before you, and

trying to conceal itself in some thick clump. ... I have on

several occasions heard one, perched conspicuously on a high

bush or hedge-row (*), pour forth a remarkably sweet song.”


Jerdon’s description of the bird is short, and I will give it

as it stands :—“ Above clear red brown, rufous or cinnamon colour

on the wings, and the tail obsoletely banded with dusky ; lores,

and all the lower plumage, white ; lower surface of wings and

tail dusky cinereous. Bill black, with the nostrils deep yellow ;

legs orpiment yellow ; hides dark brown, with an outer circle of

buff; orbits bright orange. Length 6J inches.” The bill is

short, deep, and arched. Mr. Gronvold informs me that, at the



* This reminds one of the Hedge Accentor.—K. P.



