bushes, it stops now and then in the search to look up at you, in 
a most confiding manner. Unlike the wrens these social little birds, 
don’t seem to mind you looking at them. Bill is of ordinary size, 
straight, slightly notched aud curved at the tip; gape smooth; 
wings short and rounded 4th, 5th and 6th quills the longest ; tail 
short and soft; tarsus long and strong; feet large; hind toe large; 
claws long; predominating colour of these birds is dull blue. 
(338) BRACHYPTERYX CRURALIS, /Vhite-browed Short-wing, is com- 
mon in Darjeeling. When observed it is usually tame and friendly, 
though only on rare occasions, it will be induced to show, where 
it has so artfully hidden its nest, one usually can rest assured that 
it has done its level best to prevent its discovery. Crwralis can 
always be depended upon in being bright and cheerful, even on those 
dark wet days in July, which seem never too damp and _ cheerless 
to dull the little Short-wing’s ardor. Rain or mist, “Sun or shine,” 
you can usually meet it, in among undergrowth busy at work, lift- 
ing its head for a pause now and again, and sending forth a shrill 
call, that makes you wonder, if you have not already noticed the 
bird, from where the sound came. It takes you all your powers of 
observation to locate the voice, partially by the uplifted head and 
quiver of the little throat of the bird, a few yards it may he, below 
you. Cruralis is a true vantriloquist, the first few notes, sound as 
though proceeding from a much greater distance, in the direction 
the voice is thrown. To your no less wonderment and surprise, when 
you are half assured by the last note or two, that the clear shrill 
call has come from the little Short-wing, which suddenly shows 
itself. This species is 54 inches; plumage of the male is dull grey- 
ish blue with white, eye streak not unlike eye brows. 
We will now turn our attention to bigger members of MytoTueg- 
RINE ( Ground-Thrushes ). 
WHISTLING THRUSHES 
These might be called Blackbirds, though much bigger. True 
Blackbirds are Turdulus and Merula. These handsomely marked 
‘thrushes (Myiophonus) have one species the Temméinckii which is 
common in Darjeeling, whose rich mellow whistle, it would be 
difficult to surpass. They are birds of black plumage. over laid 
with rich glossy blue. Bill is large, strong, compressed, notched and 
hooked at the tip; rictal bristles hardly noticeable amongst the 
short plumes; wings long and pointed, 5th quill longest ; tarsus long 
and strong; feet strong ; claws strong and curved. 
(343) MyropHonus TemMInckit, Vellow-billed Whistling Thrush, 
is common in Darjeeling and remains with us pretty well throughout 
