318 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



a pair that were feeding their young in a nest not six yards 

 from our door. Its breeding season must commence early in 

 May, for the young were three parts grown by the beginning of 

 June." 



Nest. According to Mr. Dixon the nest is made in one of 

 the numerous "cleats," or in a crevice of a wall, or under an 

 overhanging bank. The nest is exactly similar to that of the 

 Common Wren, and abundantly lined with feathers. 



Eggs. Similar to those of A. troglodytes, but slightly larger, 

 and with some of the reddish spots somewhat bolder and 

 more strongly indicated than is usual in the eggs of the 

 Common Wren. Axis, 075 ; diam., 0*6. 



THE BULBULS. FAMILY PYCNONOTID.E. 



These birds constitute an assemblage of Thrush-like forms 

 found in the tropics, and foreign to a northern country like 

 Great Britain. They are usually crested, have great powers of 

 song, are arboreal in their habits, and non-migratory. 



THE TRUE BULBULS. GENUS PVCNONOTUS. 



Pycnonotus, Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 973. 



Type, P. capensis (Linn.). 



THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD-VENTED BULBUL. PYCNONOTUS 

 CAPENSIS. 



Turdus capensis, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 295 (1766). 

 Pycnonotus capensis, Newt. ed. Yarr., i., p 247 (1872); Dresser, 



B. Eur., iii., p. 361, pi. 143, fig. 2 (1876); Sharpe, Cat. 



B.,vi., p. 130(1881); B. O. U. List Br. B., p. 36(1883): 



Seeb., Br. B., i., p. 251, note (1883): Saunders, Man., p! 



136, note (1889). 



Adult. Brown, with the head and throat a little blacker ; 

 under tail-coverts yellow. Total length, 7-6 inches; wing, 



3-65- 



NOTE. There are many species of birds in the British List 

 which might well be struck out in future works on our native 



