The Thrush Tribe. 63 



and trained like game cocks. The food recommended 

 for Bulbuls in confinement is much the same as that 

 given to Thrushes, and they are very fond of fruit. 



Another sub-family, the Timalinse or Babblers, be 

 long to India, the Eastern Archipelago, and Australia. 

 They frequent the woods and forests, feeding on in- 

 sects, which they pick up from the ground or scratch 

 out of the earth with their bills and feet. Several of 

 the species live a good deal upon fruit. Most of them 

 have a sweet song, and easily learn to imitate the 

 notes of other birds. The LAUGHING THRUSH be- 

 longs to this family, and the BLACK-FACED THRUSH 

 of India (Garrulax Chinensis), of which Mr. R. W. G. 

 Frith had one for some time in a cage. It was very 

 tame and familiar, and delighted in being caressed and 

 tickled : it was a very fine songster, and imitated every- 

 thing it heard. When chopped meat was put into the 

 cage, it would place the bits, one by one, between the 

 wires ; and when a bee or wasp was given to it, the 

 bird seized it and turned its tail round to make it sting 

 itself several times before eating it. A large beetle it 

 would kill with a stroke of its bill, placing it before it, 

 and a small snake given to it was treated in the same 

 manner, pierced through the head. 



In its wild state, the Black-faced Thrush feeds on 

 fruit as well as insects. It assembles in large flocks, 

 and frequents jungles and thick forests, where it is 

 often detected by the odd cries, said to resemble a 



