THE BULBULS OF NORTH CACHAR. 13 
The few eggs I have seen could not possibly be distinguished from those of 
the last bird. One clutch of two is of the blotched type, and five are of the 
other. In my remarks on this bird in the Asian, by mistake I wrote “ the 
blotched eggs number four in every five taken” it should have been number 
only two to five of the other kind taken. Seven eggs average 91” x °67”; in 
length they vary between *89” and 1:05”, and in breadth between *56” and ‘7”, 
The largest egg is very much larger than any of the others, measuring 
1:05” >¢ °7” whereas the next largest is only just °95” % °67”, 
I have never seen this bird in as large flocks as those in which C. aurifrons 
assembles, Asa rule, nob more than five or six are seen together, and often 
they are found in pairs. They do not, either, descend as low as C. aurifrons does. 
I have never heard of their being found quite in the plains, and only once or 
twice have I met with them anywhere below some 600 feet. Although they 
are very nearly entirely insectivorous, they are not altogether so, and in a caged 
state accustom themselves to a wholly vegetable diet. I have seen them two or 
three times, when wild, eating berries, and one I once shot in my compound 
had its stomach full of oranges about the size of a No. 4 shot. 
This bird and its mate lived in my compound, and did a good deal of damage 
to the one orange tree they particularly fancied. At first I flattered myself that 
they were destroying the red ants which infested the tree, but I soon discovered 
my mistake and did my best to drive them away, finally having to shoot one, 
that being the only way of ridding myself of their company. In captivity they 
seem to thrive on plantains and similar food, though they are grateful for any 
insects which may be offered to them, and more especially for any grasshoppers. 
A great friend of mine in Silchar had one of these birds in a cage, which was a 
most charming pet. It soon got to know that certain people gave it grass- 
hoppers or other dainties, and would become most excited whenever they came 
into the verandah, coming to the side of its cage and calling loudly to 
attract their attention. When J last saw it, it was beginning to sing, but had 
not come to its full powers, though it possessed, even then, a very sweet and 
musical littlesong. This bird had a habit of turning complete somersaults from 
off the top perch of its cage on to one of the lower ones, and this it would 
do some half-dozen, or even more, times in rapid succession. ‘This trick, 
however, is one which is common to the species—and, I believe, to the genus— 
and. in a wild state they may occassionally be seen indulging in these acrobatic 
feats. In turning these somersaults, the bird does not appear to apen its wing 
in the least ; it suddenly turns round on its perch, and drops, with closed wings, 
on to the place it desires to reach, either seizing something edible as it first 
turns round, or else directly after arriving on the lower twig. _ 
