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In 1873, the first specimen was received by the Loudon

Zoological Gardens from the Jardin d’ Acclimatation of Paris,

and Dr. Sclater mentioned that it was the first living example

that he had ever seen. In 1893, the Berlin Gardens secured it;

yet in 1899 Dr. Russ (in his latest published work) spoke of it as

follows: “ It must be reckoned as altogether one of the very


rarest imported foreign birds living in our possession.” In

England, however, as I understand, the bird has of late years

been imported more frequently, and, although not an abundant

bird in the market, can hardly be considered very rare.


As a rule the species of Garrulax appear to be gregarious,

feeding mostly on the ground and inhabiting bamboo-jungle or

brushwood ; they nest at no great height from the ground,

forming a structure of woody tendrils, twigs, fibre, grass, or

leaves, and lay greenish or bluish eggs. The notes of most are

harsh and chattering, though they utter also clear flute - like

notes, which from their rapid repetition and monotony are some¬

times still more irritating; indeed, Mr. Fulljames informed me

that a specimen of the present species, and another which he

kept out of doors, proved such a nuisance to the neighbours

that he gave them to the Zoological Society.


The Collared Jay-Thrush is rather a striking bird to look

at, the upper surface being sandy brown ; the eyebrow-stripe,

a stripe at the side of the head, the cheeks, ear-coverts and

throat, white; a black streak behind the eyes; sides of the head

bordered behind with grey ; nape, bright reddish brown ; sides

of the neck black, forming a nearly complete belt across the

breast ; flights dark brown ; tail brown, the middle feathers

uniform, the outer ones with a black belt; under parts mostly

yellowish brown.


This is a rather large bird, about equal in size to the Blue-

bearded Jay, but with a long and somewhat curved bill. The

feet are leaden grey with paler claws; the bill is blue-black ;

the lower mandible largely horn-coloured ; the eyelid is edged

with blackish, and the iris is chestnut.


The above description is somewhat brief, and perhaps

hardly gives an idea of this quaint looking bird, with his black-

bordered white face and throat and sandy-brown back and belly.


I purchased a specimen on January 26th of the present

year, and was unhappily only able to accommodate it with a cage

of about two feet cubic measure. I feed it upon my regular

mixture—two parts crumb of household bread, one part boiled

potato passed through a masher, one part yolk of egg, one part



