220 CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. 



to be seen upon its branches, diving their beaks amidst the yellow petals, in order to obtain the tiny- 

 beetles that lurk within, and thereby smearing their heads all over in the most ludicrous manner with 

 the bright golden pollen that is profusely scattered over the stamens of the flowers. During the 

 period of incubation, which in Soudan commences with the rainy season, and, in more northern 

 latitudes, in the months that correspond with our spring, not only the couples, but the settlements of 

 couples that often build upon the same tree live together in the utmost harmony. The nests are 

 always carefully concealed under the foliage, though so slenderly constructed as to be permeable 

 to light ; their sides are composed of fine grass and roots, woven together with spiders' webs, and 

 smoothly lined with delicate fibres. The eggs are small, of a reddish white colour, and marked with 

 dark brown and blueish grey spots, some of which form a wreath at the broad end. We were unable 

 to obtain further particulars respecting the breeding of either this or the preceding species. The 

 natives of Northern Africa are far too indolent to attempt to tame these interesting birds, but in 

 India they are much prized, and frequently reared in cages, not, however, on account of their song, 

 but owing to the sport they afford as combatants ; indeed, they are regularly trained for the cruel 

 purpose of making them fight. In Ceylon the Pycnonotus Jmmorrhons is taken young from the nest, 

 and secured by a string to its perch ; it is taught to come at its master's call, and when it has learnt 

 the necessary obedience, is confronted with another bird similarly fastened, and the two are then 

 incited to attack each other with such fury as would certainly end in the death of one or both, did 

 not the spectators take care to separate them at the proper moment by means of the strings. 



The TRUE BABBLERS (Timalid) inhabit Southern Asia, and are distinguishable by their 

 powerful beak, which is decidedly arched and much compressed at its sides, as well as by their 

 strong feet and claws, long hinder toes, short rounded wings, in which the fifth and sixth quills 

 exceed the rest in length, and moderately long, rounded tail. At the base of the beak there is 

 a growth of well-developed bristles. 



THE RED-HEADED BABBLER. 

 The Red-headed Babbler (Tima/ia pileatd) is olive-brown on the wings and tail ; the sides of 

 the head and nape are dark grey ; the brow and region of the ear white ; the top of the head is 

 brilliant rust-red ; the throat and breast pure white, the former delicately marked with black ; the 

 belly is of a pale reddish hue, shaded with olive-brown upon its sides ; the eye is dull red, beak 

 black, and the feet flesh-pink ; the body measures six inches and three-quarters, the wing two inches 

 and three-eighths, and the tail two inches and four-fifths. Horsfield, who discovered this species, 

 saw it first in Java, and tells us that its song consists of the five first notes of the gamut, c,d,e,f,g, 

 repeated in their proper succession with great regularity. More recent travellers have found it on 

 the continent of India, and from them we learn that the Red-headed Babblers principally frequent 

 tracts of underwood that mark the places where the ancient forests once stood, or districts thickly 

 overgrown with shrubs and bushes, and that they are more numerously met with in highland than 

 lowland regions. Everywhere they live in pairs, and, though they rarely venture forth into the open 

 country, are often to be seen in the early morning, perching on trie branches of their leafy retreats, 

 whilst they preen their feathers or dry their wet plumage. Even during the breeding season the 

 male frequently adopts this position, and sits with drooping wings, apparently entirely forgetful, not 

 only that his mate is left solitary, but of everything around him. At other times the somewhat 

 neglectful spouse endeavours to cheer his hard-working partner with his song, accompanying his 

 notes by spreading the long feathers at the back of his head and brandishing his tail aloft. The nest 

 of these birds, which is deep, cup-shaped, and very fragile, is usually formed of leaves woven neatly 



