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(429) Stp1a CAPISTRATA, Llack-headed Silia, is perhaps the best 
known bird we havein Darjeeling. Sibiais much in evidence all seasons 
of the year, and bird life in our station would be much poorer, and 
bereit of its vivacity and cheerfulness if sibias would take it into 
their heads to emigrate ina body, like Cruentus (807) Green-Blood 
Pheasant has thought fit to do, off those captivating slopes: rich 
erassy downs; and shady Rhododendron forests on the Sirgalillas, 
between Sandakphu and Phalut. If I called Gar-lewcolophus, White- 
crested Laughing-Thrush and some of its race the policemen of the 
smaller Insessoreal colony or community, | should say, Sibia is the 
head-constable, but you can’t grease Sibia’s palm! to let you tres- 
pass beyond forbidden ground, even though it sees you unarmed 
—gun or any other murderous weapon, and only wish to watch 
the little hide and seek among the branches, or note the peculiarities 
of certain birds. No! Nature in the shape of birds, seems averse 
or has been brought up to think so—to permit peeping into her 
sanctuaries. It hardly seems necessary to describe Sihia capistrata 
which ought to be fairly well known to one and all. As it appears 
on the branch above you, it is deep rufous on the lower back and 
upper tail-coverts; paler rufous, front of the neck, breast and 
below; head with a prominent black crest. Rufous and black are 
the predominating colours, overlooking brighter and darker tints ; 
tail is rufous; bill black; irides brown. In length this species is 
10inches. Like most birds, on these hills, it has a variety of accom- 
plishments together with a fine clear voice, nature has endowed it 
with. Its song, also like most birds, is varieated according to cir- 
cumstances, times and seasons—a clear pleasant whistle, not unlike 
tit-ce-ree, ree-ree, ree-ree, throughout the day, winter, sun and rain. — It 
is uttered a good deal to suit the occasion. In November the call 
changes to remind one of the coming cold weather; in the latter 
end of February, it heralds the approach of.a genial spring. When on 
more serious business, such as © sentry go” among the branches on 
the confines of a busy “camp of excercise,” it assumes the babbler 
accomplishments. In build it is like a greyhound, and ean slip 
through the maize of branches with great ease and speed. Sibia 
is also a remarkably good boxer; I have seen it in spring come 
tumbling to the ground, landing good telling blows on the Collered 
Pigmy Owlet’s formidable beak, and when on the ground, holding 
on with one leg and hitting out with the other till owlet had, had 
quite enough of it and flew off when able, looking much the worse 
for the encounter. This I afterwards, discovered, was for looking 
with hungry eyes at Mrs. Sibia’s household, getting their first 
lesson in flying. Siita when he likes is a perfect acrobat, it clings 
to flowering stocks and slender stems, head down probing the buds 
for lurking insects, 
