9344 Notices of Books. 
p- 59: this is very confusing. “Babbler” may ‘be a good dis- 
tinctive name in either instance, but it cannot be so in all. 
It is so agreeable to pen these little criticisms as I drink instruction 
from each page that I scarcely know how to leave off or when to wind 
up my commentary with a well-turned phrase or neat paragraph; I 
will not attempt it : I will not “ study the order of going, but go,” and 
leave my author alone with my reader, whom I am sure will be delighted 
with the extracts I have selected. 
“The White-headed Babbler (Malacocercus griseus).—It is ex- 
tremely common and abundant in the Carnatic, and is to be found in 
every hedge, avenue and garden. Like the others of its genus it always 
associates in families of six, seven, eight or more; even in the breeding 
season the parent birds feeding in company with their former com- 
panions. One may be seen suddenly dropping to the ground from 
some tree, and is followed. in succession, though perhaps not imme- 
diately, by each of the flock. They hop about, turning over fallen 
leaves, and examining all the herbage around the base of trees, a very 
favourite spot, or on a hedge side, never venturing ‘to any distance 
from cover, being aware of their tardy powers of flight. They are 
occasionally seen seeking insects or grain from heaps of dung, whence 
they have received their common denomination, as well from the French 
(fouille merde) as from the English (dirt bird), who are on this account 
prejudiced against them. ‘They generally feed at some little distance 
apart from each other, but now and then, if a richer prize than usual is 
spied out, two or more will meet and struggle for it; and now and then 
one of them will make a clumsy flight after a grasshopper, seeking safety 
by its wings, and not unfrequently eluding its awkward pursuer. On 
being driven from the ground, or leaving it from choice, their hunger 
being satisfied, they fly up to the nearest tree, hopping and climbing 
up the larger branches, and if you happen to be watching them they 
do not stop till they have reached the top or the opposite side, whence 
they fly off in single and extended file as before. They often appear 
to pick insects off the branches of trees. They are familiar if undis- 
turbed, feeding often close to houses, but if watched or followed they 
become circumspect, disperse and hide themselves. Their cry is a 
loud sibilous or whispering sort of chatter, which they repeat all at 
once, sometimes when feeding, or when any unusual sight attracts 
their attention, and often without any apparent. object at all. They 
have no song. Their flight is slow and laborious, performed by a few 
rapid strokes of the wings, alternating with a sailing with outspread 
pinions. I have often found the nest of this bird, which is composed 
