MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 699 
spent the day hopping about in the children’s ward, where it naturally became 
a great favourite, We kept the bird’s winys slightly clipped for fear of 
losing it, but it never showed any desire to Jeave us, Ifrequently went through 
the compound with the bird perched on my hand or shoulder, when it would 
answer the calls of the wild Madras Bulbuls without making any attempt to join 
them. It had four distinct notes :—One of happiness —used especially when 
in the sun or in the open air; the warning note of danger—a low cry of 
greeting or thanks which it gave whenever I stroked it or brought it any- 
thing to eat; and lastly, a low twittering or “ conversation’’ which it carried on 
with itself, especially when observing its own reflection in a looking-glass. 
As time went on my bird | ecame more and more affectionate and tame. His 
happiest moments were when he was perched on the hand or on the lap, being 
stroked ; he loved it as much or even more than a cat does, His preference 
for the country over town life was very marked : in London he was dull and 
quiet, in the country, happy and joyous, calling and answering to the wild 
birds in the gardens, In England, however, he did not have quite as much 
liberty as in India, but still a great deal; and only on one occasion did he 
take advantage of it toleave usfora skort time, This wasin a garden 
near Droitwich ; I had him on my hand when Le suddenly took flight into 
some big elm trees near, and there he stayed for about two hours, very 
happy at first, as his notes of joy testified, but after a while finding nothing 
that suited him to eat in the branches, his song changed to that of dis- 
content,and he came down into an apple tree and allowed himself to ke 
taken i» the hand, 
As regards his food in England, not being able to supply him with enough 
grasshoppers, we found meal-worms made a good substitute, and those he 
continued to eat, combined with fruit of all kinds, and bread and milk till a 
few months before he died, when he renounced meat diet entirely. The 
bird, which has lived in captivity for about 14 years, died this year. 
. IDA CHINNERY, 
TEDDINGTON, 10th December, 1900. 
No, IX.—MUSK RAT ATTACKING A TOAD. 
While sitting in the verandah of the Baroda Residency, soon after dark, 
one evening, recently, we were startled by the cry of a frog,or as it even- 
tually proved to be, a toad. I suggested that the reptile was being attacked 
by asnake, which remark, as the noise proceeded from a spot apparently 
close to our chairs, caused a sudden cessation in the game of bridge that 
was in progress at the moment, After some difficulty we localised the noise 
under the platform placed opposite the central door for the convenience of 
visitors alighting from their carriaces, Lights and sticks were procured and 
the platform was removed lon bec, 
We then saw a toad of the kind very common at Baroda witha musk-rat 
hanging on to his head : he had caught the toad between the eyes and hung 
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