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PERCHING-BIRDS. li 
of the females yellow. The numerous species inhabit the wooded regions 
of India and the Indo-Chinese countries and islands, and are generally 
met with in small flocks searching the leaves for msects. 
Family V. Pycnonorin£. BuLsuts. 
The members of this numerous and fairly well-defined family of 
somewhat Thrush-like birds are peculiar to the Old World and found 
throughout the Ethiopian, Indian, and Malayan regions. They are 
generally characterised by well-developed bristles round the gape, a 
short metatarsus, and a rounded concave wing. They are birds of 
feeble flight and arboreal habits, and frequent gardens, low jungles, 
and forests, feeding chiefly on berries and fruits. Many of the species 
ave gregarious. The nest is generally an open structure of sticks, grass, 
and moss, placed in a low tree or creeper, and the eggs are almost 
invariably marked and spotted. Many of the species, especially those of 
the genera Otocompsa (1958, 1959) and Pycnonotus (1960-1963), have a 
sweet song and are favourite cage-birds. 
The usual coloration is olive or brown, but brilliant exceptions are to 
be seen in the Fairy Blue-bird (Irena puella) (1980), the beautiful green 
species of Chloropsis (1981-1984), and the red-throated, orange-breasted 
Rubigula dispar (1956) from Java. 
Family VI. Trmenipm. BaBsiers. 
The characters and limits of this large Old-World family, which 
includes a somewhat varied assemblage of species, is still imperfectly 
understood. They may be generally characterised as thrush-like birds 
with well-developed bristles at the gape, short, rounded, concave wings, 
fitting closely to the body, and strong metatarsi. The majority are 
decidedly terrestrial in their habits, creeping about singly or in small 
companies among thick undergrowth; but some, such as the Chinese 
“Robin” (Liothria lutea) (1940) and its allies, as well as the thick-billed 
Paradovornis (1941) and the smaller, more Tit-like Suthora (1942), are 
more arboreal and should probably be associated with the Paride. Six 
subfamilies are recognised, but we can only briefly note some of the 
more remarkable forms. In the Crateropodine we find the curious 
spinous-tailed species (Orthonya spinicauda) (1892), the handsome 
Cinclosoma punctatum (1893), and the “ Coach-whip” bird (Psophodes) 
(1899), which has a note like the crack of a whip, all three being 
natives of Australia; the curious Eupetes (1894), with somewhat the 
appearance of a long-legged Woodpecker, the Scimitar-Babbler (Xipho- 
rhamphus superciliaris) (1912), remarkable for its very long, slender, 
curved bill, and the Laughing Thrush (Dryonastes chinensis) (1907), 
[Case 72, ] 
