THE BULBUL. 27 



and China, while the other species is not found outside 

 this country, and is confined here to the north-east, being 

 replaced elsewhere by other species very much resem- 

 bling it, but not so big or so black. In Western and South- 

 ern India the Red-whiskered Bulbul also gives place to 

 another species, which is however, very like it, chiefly differ- 

 ing in having no white tip to the tail. Both of our Bulbuls 

 must be fairly hardy birds, for they range up the Himalayas 

 to quite a temperate climate; however, they no doubt 

 come down in the winter just like human visitants to the 

 hills which is where a hill-bird has such an advantage over 

 one that has to make a long migration on the level. 



I have seen variations of both our species of Bulbuls ; 

 in the case of the larger one the " freak " was ash-grey 

 and in the smaller, white, the red markings persisting 

 in each case, as indeed red colour usually does in albino 

 varieties. Both ' ' sports ' ' were very pretty, and as Bul- 

 buls will breed in confinement, they would be well worth 

 taking some trouble to perpetuate. But no one is 

 likely to take that trouble in India, and Bulbuls are not 

 very commonly kept at home, although both of our spe- 

 cies can be obtained there at more or less moderate prices. 

 The Bulbul, unfortunately for its reputation for a cage- 

 bird, has only beauty of form to recommend it, and the 

 home fancier demands a song or gaudy colour if he is to 

 honour a non-seed-eating bird with a place in his aviaries, 

 with the occasional variation of ' ' starring it " on the 

 show bench. 



