TIMELIID^E. 67 



Family TIMELIID^]. Subfamily BRACHYPODIIN^. 



50. Pycnonotus barbatus (Desfontaines). The White-vented 

 Bulbul. 



Moorish. Bou lag-lag. 



" Is very abundant and resident around Tangier. When the 

 oranges are ripe, they are always to be heard and seen chattering 

 and fighting in the gardens. They nest in May, June, and July, 

 laying from three to four eggs, which are very thin-shelled and 

 tender, of a greyish-white colour, marbled or spotted with reddish 

 spots of two or three shades of brown and purple. The nest is 

 built in the branches of fruit-trees (orange-, apricot-, pear-, &c.), 

 and is shaped like those of the Woodchat Shrike, coarsely 

 interlaced outside with ends of small roots and with creeping 

 plants. They feed on all kinds of fruit and different flowers, 

 are very fond of oranges, and prefer them to anything else. 



" This species is subject to variations, as I have seen two 

 which had the head, breast, and neck brown, with white spots, 

 while the wings, back, and tail were brownish red, the rest being 

 dirty white." Favier. 



In accordance with Favier's statement, this Dusky Bulbul was 

 found in great plenty about the gardens just outside Tangier. 

 They were shy ; but one day in March I stalked up to and 

 watched for some time a lot of seven or eight in the Belgian 

 Consul's garden. They were squabbling and playing with one 

 another on a Persian lilac or common bead- tree, the seeds of 

 which they were pecking at; and they reminded me much of 

 some of the Indian Babblers (Crateropus), particularly in their 

 flight and garrulous chattering. Besides this noise they have a 

 melodious whistle, which I took down at the time and tried to 

 note thus Pwit, Pivit, Quiterd, Qiiiterd, rather in the tone of a 

 Blackbird. This song, if it may be so called, and their chatter 

 are so remarkable as to attract attention at once. 



F2 



