THE



347



Avicultural Magazine,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.



Third Series .— -Vol. V.—No. 12. —All rights reserved. OCTOBER, 1914.



THE


RUFOUS-NECKED LAUGHING THRUSH.


Dryonastes ruficollis.


By D. Seth-Smith, F.Z.S.


Amongst the many beautiful and interesting' birds brought home

from India by Major Perreau in the spring of last year (1913) were

several specimens of the handsome Rufous-necked Laughing Thrush

(.Dryonastes ruficollis), of which he most kindly presented four to

the Zoological Society, which proved to be the first of their kind

ever represented in the collection. The others went to private

aviculturists, and it is possible that some of these may have some

interesting notes that they can send our Editor regarding them.

Those at the Zoological Gardens have proved to be hardy, tame and

most attractive birds, and I have no doubt that they would have

made an attempt at breeding if a pair could have been given a suitable

aviary to themselves. But none of the group of Babbling Thrushes

are safe with smaller companions, and so ours had to rough it with

a mixed collection in one of the compartments of the Western

Aviary where I have often seen them picking up sticks and leaves

as if wishing to build. If all goes well we shall try to find them

better accommodation next spring.


Mr. Goodchild’s successful plate gives a very good idea of the

appearance of this fine species and renders any detailed description

unnecessary.


In a wild state D. ruficollis occurs at the lower elevations of

not more than 4,000 feet in the Himalayas. It is said to frequent

thick reedy jungles, constructing its nest in bushes near the ground,

and laying from three to four eggs of a pale bluish green colour.



