426 Kev. J. Sibree, Jr.^ on the 



have a case almost unrivalled in interest, the Shrike assuming 

 the plumage of the Thrush to serve him in pursuit of his prey/' 



As we have already seen in many other cases, some of the 

 names of the birds belouging to this family are evidently 

 imitative of their notes, such as Tekiteky and Tekitekiala, 

 names of the White-eyed Babbler and the Fantail Warbler. 

 Another name, with several variations, of some of the Bulbuls, 

 Tsikorbvana, possibly comes from a root rbvana, " a move- 

 ment en masse," and so would seem to mean that these birds 

 are seen in large numbers"^. One bird of this same subfamily is 

 called Vdromasiaka, " Ferocious-bird " (curiously enough, this 

 is the one referred to above as being probably " mimicked " 

 by a Shrike ; and so possibly the Bulbul has been credited 

 with the rapacity of the Shrike which he resembles) ; another 

 of them is called Voromarenina, " Deaf -bird ; " while the word 

 boka, ''leper," also enters into others of their names. As 

 might have been expected, the White-eyes {Zosterops) have 

 several names referring to the prominent white ring round 

 their eyes ; e. g., Tswamaso, " Beautiful-eyes," Siparomaso , 

 Partamaso, and also Eamanjereky, from a root meaning " to 

 be conspicuous," " to be obvious to the sight." The Fantail 

 Warbler has, among other names, those of Tily and Kitily, 

 "Watchman" or ''Spy." 



The White-eye [Zosterops madagascariensis) builds a very 

 pretty open nest on the end of some hanging branch. Its 

 eggs are very pale blue. 



Two species of Feather- tailed Warblers {Dromceocercus) 

 have been found in Madagascar. These birds have curiously 

 formed tails, composed of several long stiff quills, with a very 

 scanty pluming of fine hair-like filaments, and carry them 

 cocked up at a rather high angle from the body. Like most 

 of their congeners, these little birds are of sober brown and 

 grey plumage. 



One peculiar species of Tailor-bird has been found in 

 Madagascar. The genus is widely spread over the whole of 

 the Indian Peninsula. 



Five species of Butcher-bird (or Shrike proper) are natives 

 * Mr. Wills says, "They are plentiful, but go in pairs, not in flocks." 



