Some Colony Birds. 317 



By an infallible instinct these birds always choose a tree on which 

 marabuntas or tierce ants, or both, have already established themselves. 

 The marabuntas nests often hang among those of the birds ; but there 

 seems a perfect truce between them. The male bird at home cuts a ridi- 

 culous figure. Standing in a prominent place, he lowers his head and 

 tail, and ruffles up the yellow feathers of his back and all the while he 

 cries in hollow tones: "Just look at n,e! Just look at me! Don't you 

 admire ? Am 1 not fine ? " He waits a little while for admiration, and 

 then begins again. 



He well deserves the name of Mocking-bird, for there is no bird in 

 the forest he will not imitate, and thus often deceives the sportsman 

 and specimen collector. 



Some time ago in the North West District, I had occasion during a 

 missionary journey to spend a night at the Rest-house at the mouth of the 

 Baramani River. I had no sooner showed myself at the window than I was 

 subjected to a noisy badinage from, as I supposed, a number of birds on 

 a tree close by. "Hi, hi ! ah ! aJi! ya-ah ! What are you doing there ? " 

 The voices seemed to say, "■ I don't like the look of you at all ! Go away .' 

 We don't want you — aha — yah — yah ! " I looked in amazement. There 

 was only one yellow-back, perhaps some old bachelor, but he was skip- 

 ping from branch to branch and pouring out his full vocabulary from 

 different coigns of vantage. 



The yellow-back makes an attempt at a song ; but it is more interest- 

 ing than musical. There are mutterings and splutterings. whisperings 

 and gurglings, and occasionally a full round note ; but the whole is 

 not inspiring. It is like a clown trying to be sentimental. But he is 

 worth domesticating on account of his beauty and knowing ways. One 

 I have now will do what in gymnastic language I must call the hand- 

 grind — a bird's feet are partly hands — he will swing round his perch, 

 holding on by the feet, in the vain endeavour to catch his tail ! His feet 

 are large and powerful. I am told he can be taught to speak. Mine will 

 sometimes bark like a dog on the approach oi a stranger. 



The Red-Back. 



The Red-back mocking-bird (( 'assicus affi n is) is closely related in form 

 and habits to the yellow-back. It is. however, entirely black with the 

 exception of the rump which is rich, bright, crimson : the colour of red 

 port-wine seen against the light. The black feathers have also a blue 

 sheen. It is rarer and shier than the yellow-back and is not so intelligent. 

 I have never seen it in a cage. A couple I tried to rear did not thrive ; 

 but the conditions were difficult. 



It has a long, swift flight, and then the crimson of its back gleams 

 out. It may sometimes be found sharing the colony of the yellow-backs ; 

 but the two never inter-breed. Nature abhors mixed marriages of all 

 kinds. 



