é Toe) 
(430) Sipta PICAOLDES, Long-tailed Sibia, is not to be seen in Dar- 
jecling, as it is more partial to 4,000 or 5,000 feet elevation. ‘This 
bird ditfers from the last named species, by having a longer bill 
and wings, much longer tail, which gives it aclumsy flight, in 
an undulating wavy manner, when flyirg from tree to tree; short 
distances apart. In habits generally it resembles the former Sibia ; 
but the longer tailed species are not so active, sharp and intelli- 
gent. Both these Sibias are good acrobats, the latter birds, perhaps, 
not so accomplished a master at the profession, as Capistrata, in 
climbing or turning on the trapeze. Pieavides is common about, 
elevation of Kurseong. It is 14 inches in length. Bill and legs 
are blackish; irides red-brown; iris silvery ; plumage, greyish black 
with a greenish tinge, darker on the head; wings with a large white 
spot about the secondaries; tail dusky, the feathers broadly tipped 
with white ; lower parts of the bird are ashy in colour. 
GENUS MALACOCIRCUS 
True Babblers are, perhaps, not so interesting a group of birds, 
as the one we have just, reluctantly, parted company with, nor are 
they seen as far up as Darjeeling. Two species are found on the 
hills. Bill of these birds is short, compressed, deep and curving 
in shape, a slight perceptable hook at the tip which is entire, gongs 
ascendings, a few undeveloped rictals ; wings short and much rounded, 
4th, 5th and 6th quills the longest; tail broad and fairly long; tar- 
sus stout, with protecting scute ; feet large ; claws curved. These 
are sombre coloured birds, grey with a rufescent tinge, having a 
striated appearance in most. They feed much on the ground. 
(432) MALAcocrrcus TERRICOLOR, Bengal Babbler, better kaiown 
amongst residents in India, as the seven sisters, or Sithbhiyon (seven 
brothers). They are certainly noisy birds and appear to keep up a 
constant altercation, at every turn of life’s weary journey. There is 
a story current among Indians that, a king ~ once upon a time,” 
called them in and solicited their services to dig a well, when the job 
was finished, after resting a while, they made off to the king, and 
demanded payroent for their labour which had been agreed upon ; 
but lo and behold some wily on-looker had hastened to the palace, 
and drawn the sum of money, set aside for them. The king, we 
learn, would not entertain their demands, and positively refused to 
pay over again. This is why, the noisy and animated altercation 
goes on, as soon as they, or their heirs, administrators and assigns, 
remember the vile trick which was played upon them. It seems 
hardly necessary to enter into a more complete description of colour 
of these birds, which are already well known. Tfowever a few 
points may be of interest. The bill is moderately short, compressed, 
