1690 THE PERCHING BIRDS 



erally furnished with some hairs. As regards their general habits, and the colora- 

 tion of their eggs, the true bulbuls resemble the green bulbuls. While many of the 

 bulbuls have a more or less largely developed crest, those of the genus under con- 

 sideration are practically crestless. They are further characterized by having a bill 

 of moderate size with the culmen curved and the sides compressed to the tip; the 

 gape being furnished w y ith a few short, weak bristles, while the nostrils are basal 

 and placed in a groove. The wings are moderate and rounded, the tail is fairly long 

 and rounded, and the feet are furnished with strong claws. Well represented in 

 Africa, this genus is also found in India. Among the species, the Palestine bulbul 

 (Pycnonotus nigricans} is very common in Syria, Arabia, Cyprus, and Rhodes, also 

 visiting the Cyclades; while the white-vented bulbul (P. arsinoe} frequents the mi- 

 mosa groves of Northern Africa. It is considered the finest songster of all the 

 family. Mr. Gurney, who met with this species at Faioum, was told by the natives 

 that it was very partial to apricots, and found it singing among tall palm trees. In 

 South Africa the red-eyebrowed bulbul (P. capensis), the knif-kop of the colonists, 

 is well known for its partiality to figs and grapes; and is a bird of sociable tempera- 

 ment, generally living in small flocks. 



The red-billed liothrix of India {Liothrix lutea), shown on the 

 right side of the figure on p. 1688, is the typical representative of 

 another subfamily, including such members of the present family as are arboreal in 

 their habits, and of which the sexes are differently colored; the first characteristic 

 distinguishing them from the Brachypodincz \ and the second from all the rest. In 

 the typical genus, which includes but a single mountain species, the feathers of 

 the slightly-forked tail are curved outward. 



THE FLYCATCHERS 

 Family MUSCICAPID^ 



The large group of birds now claiming our attention are insectivorous in their 

 habits, and, like the chats, pursue their prey in short flights from a perch, to which 

 they return after the capture. Exhibiting much variety of form and plumage, 

 some species are for the most part plain and homely colored birds, while others, 

 such as the Indian paradise flycatchers {Terpsiphone) , almost vie with the birds 

 from which they take the first half of their name in the bright coloration of their 

 plumage and the elongation of the central tail feathers of the male. As a group, 

 Mr. Gates considers that the flycatchers may be best recognized by the mottled 

 plumage of the nestling, and the presence of numerous hairs (distinct from the 

 rictal bristles) stretching from the forehead over the nostrils. There are, however, 

 many connecting links between the most specialized flycatchers with their flattened 

 beaks, and the more warbler-like forms. With smooth, simply notched beak, ten 

 primaries, and twelve tail feathers, they all have feebly developed legs and feet, 

 which prevent them from walking on the ground, and thus serve to differentiate 



