26o



Mr. Reginald Phillipps,



Finn says (VII., p. 145) “ Sibya is the name given to the bird by

the Nepalese, who know it as a native.” But why ? Probably, I

think, because the song of the bird, which, at some seasons of

the year, is frequently repeated, may without much imagination

be reduced to writing as follows : Si-si-si-si-si-bia ! this is some¬

what of the same character as that of our Yellow Bunting ; it is

pitched on a high note, the emphasis on the final si, the number

of which is usually four or five, with the bia a falling slur, the

vowels as in Italian.


The si-si song degenerates somewhat as the summer passes,

and stops towards autumn, and is succeeded by a Chaffinch-like

song. *


Another common note, sometimes used as asong,is chisick,

repeated quickly from three to eight times ; it is pronounced like

“ Chiswick,” the well known place 011 the Thames. Occasionally

this note is used as an alarm call (not quite the same as the cat

call), but then the “ chisick ” as a distinctive word is lost, owing

to the rapidity with which the “chisicks” follow and run into

one another. This “ chisick ” call forms the foundation of many

of the other calls and notes.


Another call may best be simply described as squeak, re¬

peated usually four times.


They have a low ventriloquial danger call-whisper, a little

quavering squeak on a low note, exceedingly deceptive as to spot

and distance where uttered ; doubtless it would be used should

any one approach young or nest. When suddenly disturbed, it



* This season, so far, the si-si song has not been uttered either so

frequently or so fully as in former years; and on April 25 I heard the

Chaffinch song three times. Moreover, now they seem'to have started a

new song which, since the warm weather commenced (I had not noticed it

before), appears to have superseded the si-si song. The song proper is

che-00 (the “ch” as in “chief”) repeated quickly four times, but it is

ushered in with a sort of gurgling creaking (like some of the Weavers)

which is half stifled and difficult to get out (like the “song” of the Black

Cassique; see Vol. VI., p. 24), the four che-oos being the Lilliputian result of

a great labour. It is frequently uttered, and without the slightest variation.

Can it be a natural song? or is it a ‘makeup’ from the babel of voices

that now fills the aviary ?—R.P., May 2.



