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Dr. A. G. Butler,



the name in most general use. The best title, that first mentioned

above, is given in Jerdon’s “ Birds of India ” ; inasmuch as, in many

of its attitudes and movements the Liothrix much resembles the

Tits, although in its wing-shuffling and graminivorous tendency it

reminds one of the species of Accentor ; not that this bird any more

than the Hedge-Sparrow limits itself to a seed diet, for it is both

frugivorous and insectivorous, while in captivity it devours soft

food with avidity.


The late Dr. Sharpe placed Liothrix and Accentor very near

together in the Museum Catalogue ; and, partly for this reason,

though also on account of a similarity in the behaviour of the two

genera, I called Liothrix and its near relatives "Accentorine Tits ” in

my “Foreign Birds for Cage and Aviary,” Yol. I, p. 28. On the

other hand, Messrs. Hume and Oates regarded Liothrix as a Babbler

and not very far removed from Zosterop.s, although referable to a

distinot Subfamily.


It has been argued that the present species is not Tit-like,

inasmuch as it does not hold its prey under its claws in order to pick

it to pieces, but rubs it backwards and forwards against its perch, or

even against the stiff feathers of its wings or tail after the manner

of Garrulax : this, I think, is correct, for I well remember on more

than one occasion, when I have thrown ants’ nests dug up in my

garden upon the floor of the aviary where one or more Liotriges were

confined, that I was astonished at the extraordinary antics which

these birds indulged in and which at the time I imagined were due

to the ants having climbed upon and bitten the fleshy parts of the

wings and tail, whereas doubtless the little insects were in the birds’

bills and were being rendered helpless before being swallowed.


However, my object in writing the present article is not to

discuss the most appropriate trivial name of this charming songster,

nor its rightful position in the classification of birds, but to define

the external characters by which the aviculturist may select pairs

for breeding purposes, and to comment upon the racial forms of

the species.


In Jerdon’s “Birds of India” no sexual differences are indi¬

cated ; thus for many years bird-lovers were obliged to distinguish

the sexes entirely by their notes, — the call note of the hen being a



