THE THRUSHES. 63 



breeds in the spring, near water, making a large open 

 nest of roots and moss in a crevice in rocks or other 

 similar place, sometimes even under a waterfall. Three 

 to five eggs are laid, pale grey or green, with pink and 

 brown specklings. 



It has a very beautiful whistling song, which it begins 

 very early in the morning. The habits of the Burmese 

 race seem to be similar, as might be expected. 



This bird may occasionally, though rarely, be obtained 

 in Calcutta, and makes a very nice pet. In an aviary 

 it must only be associated with birds of its own size, as 

 it is somewhat carnivorous in its tastes and very danger- 

 ous to small birds. Care should be taken to give it plenty 

 of small creatures as food, such as shrimps, snails, and 

 cockroaches, and it should have ample facilities for bathing. 

 It has a curious trick of frequently expanding its tail. 

 As it does not appear to be a fruit-eater, this would be a 

 good bird to introduce into countries where birds of the 

 Thrush kind are wanting. 



In Southern India a species of blue Whistling Thrush, 

 smaller than the present bird, and with a black bill, is 

 found (Myiophoneus horsfieldi), and is often called the 

 " Whistling Schoolboy." 



THE GREY-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Merula boulboul) is 

 also called Kastura by the natives, this name being ap- 

 parently a general one, applied to several species, includ- 

 ing the last whose proper relationships have thus been 

 correctly assigned by the natives, often very good 

 observers. It will be at once recognized by its close 

 resemblance to the familiar Blackbird of Europe, but 



