16 How to Sex Cage Birds. 



The K ed-eared Bulbul (Otocompsa jocosa). 



In this bird the hen is slightly smaller than the cock, the back is 

 rather of a more golden brown, and the ear-plumes are shorter.* 



The White-cheeked Bulbul (Otocompsa leucoyenys). 



This species is so very l'arely imported that I have had no 

 opportunity of studying authenticated adults of both sexes, so 

 cannot say if there is any sexual difference in the plumage ; the 

 sexes of all the true Bulbuls are remarkably alike in colouring. 



The Chinese Bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis). 



In plumage the sexes are said not to differ. I purchased a male 

 on June 8th, 1899; and on January 6th, 1904, my friend Mr Seth- 

 Smith gave me another, which, from its somewhat stouter build and 

 slightly duller colouring, we thought might be a female. Not wishing 

 to catch my bird for comparison of the bills, I turned the second bird 

 in with it, but they quarrelled so that I had to separate them again. 

 As both sing equally well, there can be little question that both are 

 cock birds. 



The Persian Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis). 



The sexes are stated to be alike in colour ; and, as I have only 

 had one male, I must assume that this is correct. 



The Syrian Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopyyns). 



The female is said to be similar to the male ; and as this species 

 is more frequently imported into Germany than England, I have 

 had no opportunity of comparing undoubted adult sexes. 



The Red-ventkd Bulbul (Pycnonotus heemorrhous). 



No colour difference has been described in the sexes, and I have 

 only kept the cock bird. 



In the Fruit-Suckers (Ohloropsis), which Dr Sharpe has, rightly I 

 think, separated widely from the Bulbuls, the females are as a rule 

 smaller than the males, and have rather more slender bills ; they 

 are always less brightly coloured, and therefore easily distinguished. 



Jay-Thrushes and Laughing-Thrushes. 



These birds are referred to the family C rater opodid<? ; the former 

 are more carnivorous than the latter and therefore are best kept in 

 cages, unless a small aviary can be devoted to a pair for breeding 

 purposes. 



In the Jay-Thrushes (Garrulax) the females are slightly smaller 

 than the males, and have shorter and more slender bills. 



* It is said, however, that the ear-plumes vary with age, and are longer in the 

 Nepalese bird, to which the name 0. pt/rrhotis has been given. 



