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THE CHINESE SPECTACLE-BIRD.


Zosterops simplex, Swinh.


By A. G. BuTLKR, Ph.D.


The White-eyes or Spectacle-birds are placed among the

Honey-suckers by scientists ; but their general aspect, their

actions, and their notes resemble those of our smaller Warblers.


The Chinese bird was first recognized as an undescribed

species by the late Consul Robert Swinhoe in 1862, when he

gave it the name of Zoste7vps simplex. In his ' Revised Catalogue

of the Birds of China and its Islands,' (P. Z. S., 1871, p. 346) he

states that it is found from 'Hainan to Wancho, and in Formosa.'


The upper surface of this bird is olive-green, the forehead,

chin, throat and under tail-coverts sulphur yellow, remainder of

underparts ashy white towards the centre ; lores and a line

running round the lower edge of the eye-ring blackish ; a ring

of white feathers encircling the eye ; iris amber, bill blackish ;

feet leaden-gray.


The sexes are much alike, but it is probable that they

differ in the width of the bill ; my male being alive and my

female a skin, I cannot compare them.


I have been unable to obtain notes as to the wild life of

this species, but there is not the least doubt that it corresponds

with that of other species of the genus ; therefore one may

safely assume that, when at libert}^, Z. simplex feeds upon the

small insecfts which frequent the nectaries of flowers and soft

berries ; that it builds a neat deep cup-shaped nest in a bush and

lays pale greenish or bluish eggs.


Like all the Spectacle-birds Z. simplex is always on the

move ; its sprightly actions are extremely graceful, and the

occasional flip which it gives with its wings, when running up and

down its perch before leaving it, adds much to the appearance

of activity which characterizes it, as also do the sharp jerky

turns of its head.


The shrill tsip tsip uttered as this Zosterops flits from one

point to another, evidence its abounding health and excitable

temperament ; but its song, which merely consists of a short

Cicada-like trill, is very rarely heard.


It was formerly supposed that the White-eyes were

difiicult birds to keep ; so they were cooped up in little



