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amoug branches of trees, bushes and evergreens. They come into 
compounds and gardens close to the house to feed. Itis 64 inches 
in size ; plumage, above, is yellowish brown, bluish grey on the head, 
more a rufescent tinge on lower back; wings and tail are cobalt 
blue ; secondaries and tertials are tipped white ; underparts are 
whitish, tinged lake red. In habits these birds are much like 
Strigula, possessing an ample store of buoyancy of life and vivacity. 
(618) MINLA IGNoTINCTA, Jed-tailed Hill-Tit, we come, now, to 
amore amusing species, with a pretty, bright red tail. This bird 
remains with us, throughout the year ; in winter in smaller numbers. 
In spring and during the rains they are plentiful in our forests, 
chiefly in more open country. At times it is seen, climbing with 
facility. It could compete with ease and good grace with Piculets 
and Woodpeckers. It is frequently seen going along straight 
branches of trees, picking at cracked, inflated and fissured bark, in 
its endeavours to dislodge comfortably housed termites. In size it 
is 54 inches ; bill blackish ; legs more yellow ; irides brown ; colour, 
above, is golder, yellow olive, reddish on the back ; wings and_ tail 
are black, broadly margined with bright crimson on the primaries 
and tail; also a little crimson on the wings (tips of the primaries) 
and some white showing ; nape and head black, supercilium white ; 
black band through the eyes. This Winla is easily recognised, and 
cannot be mistaken. When seen in spring in Darjeeling they are 
fairly common. They seem to be always busy and active. In the 
mornings and warm bright days in May they are usually more lively 
and display a quarrelsome disposition, the males indulge in a “rough 
and tumble” : going for each other for all they are worth ; creating 
quite a sensation among the little (feathered) community about them, 
as they “go for” each other. They preface their assaults, or rather 
intersert an angry chirping, which sounds like, “you-try-it-if-you-dare, 
you-try-if-you-dare,” sort of interlude, in each others embrace, and 
finally they come tumbling to the ground, from whence, after a few 
finishing or “knock out” blows and kicks, they suddenly part. Each 
antagonist flies off to a different tree, and calls out to its mate, ina 
shrill plaintive, injured tone, which sounds very much like, “sweet 
Bijow ! sweet Bijow !!_ Then in a somewhat subdued voice, “pretty 
Bijow !” Sweet Bijow of course not far off, about twenty yards or 
more, quietly pecking unconcernedly among the bushes. She hardly 
lifts her head, when she hears the call, merely gives a gentle chirp as 
much as to say “I am here”. Minla, is about 52 inches long ; bill 
blackish ; irides brown. It builds a neat, deep, cup shaped nest of 
ereenish moss, lined within with soft moss roots and hair. It is 
fastened to a slender forked branch, usually on a tall tree. Eggs 
are verditer-blue with brownish red spots. The rest of JMJinla 
species ; Chestuut-headed, and Dusky-green Hill-Tit (619—620) are 
