THE BABBLERS. 19 
This pecuharity makes it a very nice aviary bird, 
although it is not brilliant in colour nor particularly tame. 
It may frequently be obtained from Calcutta dealers 
during the winter months. 
The bird breeds in the hills from May to July, build- 
ing a cup-shaped nest of moss and fibres, and laying 
pale green eggs with reddish spots. Szbya is its name 
among the Nepaulese. 
Tue Lioturix (Liothrix luteus) is figured on Plate V 
(Fig. 4). Itis about the size of aSparrow, and differs 
strikingly from other members of its family in having 
a strongly forked tail and particularly smooth and sleek 
plumage. In addition to the colours mentioned on the 
plate, the beautiful orange-streaked wings, coral-red 
~. bill and black eye make it very easy to recognize. 
The males are brighter than the females, sufficiently so 
to make it no very difficult matter to pick out a pair. 
This charming little bird is the best known of all 
Babblers in captivity ; many are sold in Calcutta every 
winter, and many more sent to England; in both cases 
the birds are usually obtained from China, though the bird 
is also common all along our hills at 8,000 feet or lower. 
It is one of the commonest birds about Darjeeling, where 
its peculiar five-noted call ‘“‘tee-tee-tee-tee-tee ’’ will 
probably be heard before the bird is seen, as it is de- 
cidedly a skulker. 
Dealers usually know it as the China Robin, but al- 
though it certainly looks like a Robin, it has a very 
different disposition and habits. It is a timid, harm- 
less bird, very sociable even with other species and re- 
