THRUSHES. 



They may often be seen in flocks of six, eight, ten, or more. They feed 

 chiefly on the ground, to which they generally drop one after the other 

 from the tree they may have perched on, and hop briskly about, picking up 

 various seeds and insects, occasionally seeking the latter from heaps of manure. 

 On being driven from the ground, or leaving it from choice, they fly up suc- 

 cessively as they dropped down, and hop and chmb upon the large branches 



Fig. 63. — The White-necked Babbler (Pomatorhinus albicoUis). 



of the nearest tree, seldom stopping till they have nearly reached the top or 

 the other side, from which, if still watched, they fly off in succession to 

 another tree. These birds have an incessant loud whispering kind of chatter, 

 which they all repeat at once, especially when feeding or on being observed 

 by any one. The nest of this species is placed in a tree at no great height : 

 it is made of small twigs and roots carelessly put together. 



The type of this sub-family is the White-necked Babbler {Pomator- 

 hinus albicoUis). 



under shelter. In the hot season the shade is both pleasant and salutary ; in the cold 

 months these woods afford shelter by keepmg off the bleak winds ; and during the 

 rainy portion of the year, those trees which have the thickest foliage throw the water 

 off from certain spots, and render them mhabitable." — Wallace., " Wild Sports of 

 the West:' 



