‘ 
( 412) 
FAMILY SILVIADA 
We will now turn our attention to a big and varied group of 
small sized birds. These comprise, the most part of some of the 
most interesting and typical in sub-families. They have long and 
strong tarsi ; feet suitable both for perching on bushes and _ trees, or 
hopping with equal facility on the land, should they feel, so dis- 
posed to do. They feed much on insects, occasionally on flowers, 
buds and fruit. We find them divided into the following groups of 
sub-families :— 
J.—SAXICOLIN” ... Stone-chats and wheat-ears. 
IIl.—RvUTICcILLINA ... Red-starts and Bush-chats. 
II].—CALAMOHERPIN... Grass-warblers. 
TV.—DRYMOICINA ... Wren-warblers. 
V.—PHYLLOSCOPIN2 .... Tree-warblers. 
VIL—SYLVIINE ... Grey-warblers. 
VII.—Moracituina ... “Wagtails and Pipits. 
I.—SAXICOLIN.Z, Stone-chats, ete., most of the birds of this 
group are friendly and social, generally having a rich toned warble. 
They prefer rocky open country and are usually seen singly hopping 
and picking up insects and bits of crumbs and rice lying about the 
compound and yard near the house, provided there are a few bushes 
near at hand to make for, as a sort of half way place of safety, if 
attacked or molested. Bill is stout ; wings longish ; tail generally 
short ; farsus stout and longish ; claws curved ; feet better adopted 
for the ground than perching. 
(475) Copsycuus SAULARIS, Magpic-Robin, or Dayal as it is 
ealled in the plains. Lepcha name is Zannid-pho. This bird is sel- 
dom or ever seen in Darjeeling. It rarely ascends over 5,000 to 
6,000 feet. I see from an old note of mine, that Magpie Robin was 
observed in a certain year in March as far up as 6,500 feet; but this 
is exceptional. It seems more at home in the valleys in Sikkim 
and the Teesta river. It is fairly common in the Sa/ forests at the 
foot of the hills. This species was named, originally, from the Sal 
trees it was first discovered among, and Linneus mistook Sal for 
Sol the Sun. Magpie Robin must be fairly well-known. It is 83 
inches in length. Plumage of the male, above is glossy blue, on the 
head, neck, breast and wings ; abdomen and under tail coverts are 
white also a few of the outer tail feathers. Magpie Robin is often 
kept in confinement, more so by Indians owing to its pretty warble, 
