Mr. Reginald Phillipps,



382



to describe it. I think I am not far wrong if I say that it much

resembles that of the common Liothrix.


Then again there is the watchman’s alarm-rattle, which I

have never heard but when the birds had young. It consists of

a low grating chatter, the tail vibrating in unison with each

“ click” of the rattle. It was not always uttered with the same

intensity, but whether this was regulated by the supposed

urgency of the danger, or whether the more feeble alarm was

that of the female, I could not determine. On September 5, a

mouse having been seen near to the baby’s box, there was a

great ado ; but only the male was clattering, the female joining

in in perfect harmony with a loud “ tsit.” I improved the

occasion by slipping round and inspecting Nest No. 5.


We are told that some of the colours (presumably of a

preserved skin) of the Mesia fade if exposed to light:—“The

colours in this species fade on exposure to the light, the olive-

colour of the back shading into grey, the underparts into ashy

white, while all the brilliancy of the bright portions of the wing

and of the tail-coverts disappears.” (Mus. Cat. VII., p. 643).

“ The colours fade to slaty, with a faint tinge of green, and paler

beneath.” (Jerdon II., p. 252). It is not only in Museum

specimens that the colours fade, but also in the living bird, at

any rate in my garden, my pair being now quite of an ordinary

colour, green-gray predominating, though the male still has

some bright red 011 the wings and tail-coverts. I11 August last I

examined the male which has been in the Parrot House at the

Zoological Gardens since 1st January, 1901, and found it but

little brighter than mine, but with a duller and darker bill. The

bills of my birds, since they have been in condition, are of a-

bright clear yellow, pointing to an improvement in health since

they were painted by Mr. Gronvold.


At page 244 of Vol. VIII. of our Magazine, Mr. E. W.

Harper, in his interesting article on the Blue-winged Siva, says :—

“At the present time I haveSivas, Mesias, Yellow-eved Babblers,

Sibias, and Common Babblers all in one apartment. These birds

are almost exactly alike in general habits, and are on the best of

terms with each other. A glance at them after roosting time is



