MISCELLANEOUS XOTES. 247 



animals in the same way by the back of the neck, and, walking along with 



head half turned, trails their hind quarters on the ground beside him. 



As I have pointed out, there is a very great difference in the way in which 



an animal is killed by a single full-grown lion and by a party of these animals ; 



but after reading Mr. Dennys's letter I feel convinced that a tiger kills its prey 



in precisely the same way as a solitary lion. 



F. C. SELOUS. 



(The above appeared in the " Field " of 23rd and 30th December 1905.) 



No. XXVII. -NOTE ON THE MAGPIE ROBIN (COPSYCHUS 

 SADLARIS). 



It may interest some of the readers of the Journal to hear of the conduct of 

 a Copsychus saularis, or Indian Magpie Robin. It found its way one morning 

 into our drawing-room, and in the course of its wanderings alighted on the 

 writing table which has at the back a small mirror let into the frame-work. 

 When the bird— a male — saw its own reflection, the first impulse was evidently 

 anger, for he dashed his beak against the glass, and scolded in an unmistake- 

 a.ble voice. Then he moved away, but presently returned, and now was all 

 sweetness : he posed before the glass, and courted his reflection with a little 

 ripple of soft song. At intervals he peeped round the back, and seeing noth- 

 ing, took a flight round the room, only to return and re-commence courting. 



Almost every day for a week the bird has come : he flies direct to the 

 table, and walking up to the mirror pays court to himself with undulations of 

 the body and the same little ripple of song. I have known a peacock that 

 admired itself in the glass. Is this admiration or is it courtship ? If the 

 latter, does it point to the conclusion that the bird, which evidently at first 

 knew its reflection to be that of a male, now supposes it to be one of the 

 •opposite sex ? The courtship, as I say, has beenigoing on for a week. 



E. C. CHOLMONDELEY. 

 Indoke, C. I., 18th January 1906. 



No. XXVIII— OCCURRENCE OF THE BITTERN IN SOUTH INDIA 

 (B TA UR US S TELL A RJS) . 

 I am sending you the legs and wings of what I take to be the Bittern 

 (Botaurus stellar is). I should be much obliged by your kindly letting me 

 know whether I am right about this. The bird was shot near Cuddalore, 

 about 120 miles south of Madras ; but Oates says that the bird is not found 

 in South India, so perhaps I am wrong in my identification. 



C. E. RHENIUS. 

 Cuddaloue, 20th February 1906. 

 [The wings and legs are, undoubtedly, those of Botaurus stellaris, and thus 

 •establishes the occurrence of this bird in South India for the first time. 



E. Comber, 

 Hony. Secretary, 

 Ornithological Section, Na f . Hist. Soc.] 



