on the Breeding of the Indian IVhite-Eye. 117


pelled, and three, apparently robust, young Indian Zosterops were

disporting themselves for the first time in an English aviary.


In plumage, the young birds resemble their parents, but

are slightly greyer, and they did not wear spectacles till the

twenty-fourth day.


They are about the same size as the Gold-crested Wren.

The Mus. Cat. states 4.2 inches, this is evidently a skin measure¬

ment (these often get stretched), certainly the living bird does

not appear more than 3J inches from beak to tip of tail.


I can discover no outward distinction in the sexes, save

that the male is a little bolder and a little more snaky about the

head and neck. Above, bright golden-olive-yellow, brighter on

the chin and throat, wings and tail-feathers brown with greenish-

yellow margins ; abdomen and flanks whitish-buffish-grey ; a

narrow circle of pure white feathers surrounds the eyes; bill

blackish, bluish at base; legs plumbeous.


Their distribution is every portion of India, from Murree

in the Hazara country to Sadiya in Assam, and southwards 011

the one hand to Ceylon and the Nicobars, and on the other to

Bhamo in Upper Burma. In the Himalayas the species is found

up to 7000 ft., and it occurs on the higher hill ranges of Southern

India (Oates).


In a state of nature it breeds according to locality, from

January to September, but April appears to be the month in

which most nests may everywhere be found. The nest is a very

delicate little cup made of vegetable fibres and cobwebs, sus¬

pended in a fork of a small branch at all heights from the ground.


As regards aviary accommodation, these birds enjoyed a

naturally planted flight, 29ft. X 24ft. X 12ft. high, with a cosy

shelter attached, which they shared with the following species :

Pairs of Streaked Laughing Thrushes; Grey-headed Ouzels;

Snow Buntings ; Blue, Archbishop and BlackTauagers ; Paradise

Whydahs, Jaccarini, Grey, Guttural, Zebra and Ribbon Finches;

Long-tailed Grassfinches ; Orange-cheek, Grey and Golden¬

breasted Waxbills ; Silky Cowbirds; Green Singing Finches,,

with odd specimens of Doves, Maroon Tanager, Rufous-throated

Sugar-birds, Cape Canary, Arkansas Siskin (C. trislis), a pair ot

Californian Quails and a few others.



