THE BULBULS OF NORTH CACHAR. 9 



There is the full complement of eggs, rarely only two, never I 

 think, four. In shape they are rather long regular ovals, in texture 

 typical bulbul's. This bird is fairly common throughout the district, 

 descending during the cold weather far into the plains and ascending 

 to the highest peaks during the hot weather and rains. In the for- 

 mer season, during which time it assembles in flocks, it frequents 

 fairly open country, roadsides, and the edges of patches of cultivated 

 land. It keeps exclusively neither to high trees nor to low bushes, 

 visiting either the one or the other as the chances of obtaining food 

 present themselves. The flocks are very large and I have counted 

 over thirty in one ; as in addition to this, their numerical strength , 

 they are exceedingly noisy, it is by no means easy to overlook them. 

 I was once at a place on the banks of a big stream where there were 

 several large trees, then in bearing, to which these birds came to 

 feed every morning and evening. From daylight until about 9 a. m. 

 they were industriously feeding and keeping up a continuous loud 

 chuckling and chattering, giving every now and then a clear whistle. 

 After 9 o'clock the whole flock flew away, retiring to some deep, 

 shady forest close by, from which they returned to feed at about half - 

 past three or four p. m. 



They shewed themselves to be ver}-- amiable characters, refusing to 

 fight with any of the other species of birds engaged in feeding on the 

 same trees, and at once gave up their perch to any other bulbul or 

 barbet who chose to take it. 



I noticed that they were the earliest of all the birds to retire ; 

 they went away some time before sunset and began to settle them- 

 selves in a clump of bamboos where they are accustomed to roost. 



The flocks must break up very early as I have never seen any 

 after the first few days of March, though I constantly meet with 

 single birds much later on in the year. 



About the middle or end of April they ascend to higher elevations 

 where they remain during the breeding season. At this time much 

 less is seen of the birds, as they withdraw to deeper forest, keeping 

 in a great measure to nullahs and ravines, more especially to those 

 through which water runs. 



They have a pleasant but i-ather jerky song which they sing all the 

 year through, as well as in the breeding season. I have heard it 

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