On the Himalayan Black Bulbul. 209



the centre of the room before going to bed, so that the birds got

the benefit of the fire during the night. I admit this is rather

a troublesome proceeding, but the result of having your

special pets always in the room with you is that they become

exceedingly tame.


I had a Wliitetliroat for nearly ten years, and she became

so tame that she would hop about on the hearthrug in front of a

blazing fire without betraying any signs of fear. My Chiffchaffs

would feed freely from our hands, and became quite pets.



THE HIMALAYAN BLACK BULBUL


Hypsipetes psaroides.


By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S.


I had hoped to have been able to give a full account of

this interesting bird, which was kindly presented to me by my

esteemed friend, Mr. E. W. Harper—instead of which I have

a tragedy to record. The bird had been in my possession barely

three months when, owing to the garden gate being inadvertently

left open, a strange dog wandered in, forced in the front of my

aviary, and killed half my birds before it was observed, the

Bulbul among the number. Its body was much knocked about,

but I sent it to Messrs. Crockett, who have set it up for me and

have made a very fair specimen of it.


Mr. Harper, when I saw him just before his return to

India, informed me that it was popularly called the Goat Bird

on account of its call resembling the bleat of a kid. He also

considered (and I think very rightly) that its name of

Himalayan Black Bulbul was most inappropriate, for it is not

black at all. and that a more appropriate one would be the

Coral-billed Bulbul.


He also stated that when wild it lived very largely 011 the

pollen from flowers, but with the same it must also get a good

number of insects, and not small ones either I should say ; for

while in my possession it never touched any of its other food

till every mealworm was consumed.



