Thirty-two Years of Aviculture.



197



me ; but I rarely heard one sing even in an aviary : I have found

both Warblers and Accentors quite safe companions for the smallest

finches, but one of the latter killed some Pipits as I note further on.


I have kept two Mocking-birds (Mimus polyglottus) : they

are always excellent songsters ; but my first bird, which I purchased

from Abrahams, was far more talented than the second. If kept in

an aviary with other birds they are mischievous, owing to the

pleasure which they take in scaring their associates : their flight is

noiseless, and they can turn and twist in the air in a marvellous

manner: they are hardy and easy to keep, almost as graceful as

Wagtails and altogether fascinating.


Of the Jay-Thrushes I have only kept two species :—the

Collared Jay-Thrush, a very handsome bird which became tame

enough in time, but which had such a penetrating and monotonous

wdiistle that at times it was quite exasperating, and the Spectacled

Thrush, which is said to have a delightful song ; my bird however

only uttered a few notes, owing perhaps to the fact that it was not

in vigorous health, since it only lived with me for about three

months. Although I saw several examples of this species in a small

aviary at Abrahams’ place flying in company with other Babblers,

Larks, Weavers and Doves, I did not venture to trust my bird in a

mixed community, knowing as I did that the Jay-Thrushes are to

some extent predacious in their habits : perhaps confinement in a

large cage may have shortened its life, but it did not have the same

effect in the case of Garrulax picticollis.


Of the Bed-billed Liothrix I have had dozens of examples,

the majority of which proved to be hens ; but of cock birds I have

owned some superb songsters. I may be wrong, but my experience

has led me to the conclusion that the Indian race is more talented in

this respect than the Chinese, the notes being fuller, more varied,

and better sustained. As is well known this is one of the hardiest

and most pleasing of all imported birds, but it is an inveterate

egg-stealer.


Counting the Spotted-wing' ( Psaroglossa spiloptera ) of which

I wrote in our Magazine n.s. vol. i., pp. 51—54, I have kept five

species of Bulbuls, the others being the Red-vented, Persian, Chinese

and Bed-eared. They are naturally long-lived birds with lively



