64 Bird-keeping. 



" chorus of wild laughter," proceeding from the flock. 

 The bird known among bird-fanciers as the GREATER 

 PEKIN NIGHTINGALE or JAPANESE MOCKING BIRD 

 belongs to this family ; it is called also the " White 

 Eyebrowed or Spectacled Laughing Thrush " (Garni- 

 lax Sinensis). It has a loud and powerful song, with 

 some melodious thrush-like notes. 



The WAX-WING or BOHEMIAN or WAXEN CHAT- 

 TERER (Ampelis garrula) is the only species of the 

 great family of Chatterers known in Europe. It is a 

 winter visitor to England, and does not like heat, soon 

 gasping for air in a close room. It is sometimes kept 

 as a cage bird on account of its beauty, the plumage 

 being soft and silky, of a reddish ash-colour ; the head 

 has a crest of the same colour, and the feathers of the 

 wings are prettily variegated with black, white, and 

 yellow stripes. The under part of the body is chest- 

 nut-brown. It derives its name from the curious red 

 appendages to its wings and tail, which look like drops 

 of red sealing-wax. It feeds naturally on insects and 

 berries ; in confinement it will eat any of the bird 

 pastes, bread, fruit, vegetables, and almost everything 

 offered to it. It is very fond of juniper-berries. It is 

 a voracious, dirty bird, dull and awkward, and its 

 beauty is its only recommendation. 



