THE BABBLERS. EE 
a feeble note. The eggs are blue, as usual in this group, 
and the nest low down. 
The hills form the home of several large and showy 
species of this group, often called Jay-Thrushes, a 
name which well expresses their attributes. The most 
striking is 
THe WuHite-cRESTED LavucHine-THRUSH (Garrulax 
leucolophus), a bird of nearly the size of a pigeon. In 
colour it is dark-brown, with the full crest, the neck 
and breast pure white, and a black mark along each side 
of the head. The bill and feet are also black. Al- 
together it reminds one of a lady in evening dress with her 
hair powdered and wearing a black mask. Its manners, 
however, although attractive, are not exactly lady-like ; 
for it is a boisterous, rollicking bird, going about in 
large parties which continuously explode in fits of laugh- 
ter, the curiously human sound of which is most infec- 
tious! In an aviary it keeps up this character, and is 
a most excellent inmate, although not to be trusted 
with weak birds, even ofits own kind. It inhabits the 
Himalayas from Gurhwal to Arrakan, but does not range 
above 6,000 feet. In Pegu and Tenasserim a species 
with more white on the under-surface takes its place 
(Garrulax belangeri), but the two are much alike. 
Both lay white eggs in an open nest in a bush. 
The Himalayan bird is plentifully brought down to 
Calcutta in winter, and live specimens can then be easily 
obtained, together with some other species of large Bab- 
blers. All will do well together in an aviary with 
Magpies, Jays and large Mynahs, and such a collection, 
F, GAB ae 
