THE BABBLERS. 19 



This peculiarity makes it a very nice aviary bird, 

 although it is not brilliant in colour nor particularly tame. 

 It may frequently be obtained from Calcutta dealers 

 during the winter months. 



Th3 bird breeds in the hills from May to July, build- 

 ing a cup- shaped nest of moss and fibres, and laying 

 pal 2 green eggs with reddish spots. Sibya is its name 

 among the Nepaulese. 



THE LIOTHRIX (Liothrix luteus) is figured on Plate V 

 (Fig. 4). It is about the size of a Sparrow, and differs 

 strikingly from other members of its family in having 

 a strongly forked tail and particularly smooth and sleek 

 plumage. In addition to the colours mentioned on the 

 plate, the beautiful orange-streaked wings, coral-red 

 bill and black eye make it very easy to recognize. 



The males are brighter than the females, sufficiently so 

 to make it no very difficult matter to pick out a pair. 

 This charming little bird is the best known of all 

 Babblers in captivity ; many are sold in Calcutta every 

 winter, and many more sent to England ; in both cases 

 the birds are usually obtained from China, though the bird 

 is also common all along our hills at 8,000 feet or lower. 

 It is one of the commonest birds about Darjeeling, where 

 its peculiar five-noted call "tee-tee-tee-tee-tee " will 

 probably be heard before the bird is seen, as it is de- 

 cidedly a skulker. 



Dealers usually know it as the China Robin, but al- 

 though it certainly looks like a Robin, it has a very 

 different disposition and habits. It is a timid, harm- 

 less bird, very sociable even with other species and re- 



