86 On the Yellow- or Golden-eyed Babbler.


Museum, the bills of some of the specimens are deeper and more

arched than that of my bird, but whether this difference is a

mark of sex or age I do not know. Perhaps it is the distinctive

mark of the male.


To the foregoing description of the plumage I must add

that, when feeding below me on the ground on a bright day, I

have noticed some delicate shading and clouding on the back,

which are not usually observable. Perhaps this is the “slight

shade of olivaceous above ” of the young bird, as described in

the Museum Catalogue. But it is only since the moult that it has

been observed, and it has never occurred to me that my specimen

is a bird of the year. If this be so, then Mr. Gronvold’s

painting is that of a bird in its nest-feathers. Further on in the

Catalogue it is added that “ Birds of the year will probably be

found to be paler and more fulvescent in tone of plumage than

adults.” The bill of my bird is black, not dark brown as that of

the young bird is stated to be.


The bird will perch or hang in any position, its powerful

legs and toes being specially observable. Referring to Jerdou

again, in the N.W. Provinces this is the bird said by the natives

“ to support the heavens by its legs, lest they fall.”


It must not be supposed from the foregoing that the

Golden-eyed Babbler is an insipid and spiritless creature, for

such is not the case. Only yesterday (December ioth) for

instance, I happened to notice the much larger Brown-eared

Bulbul approach its favourite food-dish ; but it was immediately

put to flight, for our little friend, with head well down, made a

ram-like charge at the intruder who, true to his character, beat a

hasty and undignified retreat.


My little Golden-eyed Babbler makes a very engaging and

interesting pet, easily kept if not exposed to cold ; in my

opinion the species is well worthy of an honoured place in our

aviaries ; and Mr. Harper, as may be seen from his Article, is

of the same opinion.


December nth:—This afternoon, I heard my Golden

Eye sing for the first time. Noticing a strange song when

feeding the birds, I traced it to a gable-roofed “ house ” where, in



