36 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



A nearly allied species is found in Burmah, G. Belangeri, Lesson. 

 Another sub-division, very similar in form, is exemplified by G. 

 strepitans of Tickell, and this extends into China, where represent- 

 ed by G. perspicillatus, and G. cliinensis (which last also occurs 

 in the Tenasserim Provinces) ; indeed, it is doubtful if it really do 

 occur in China. G. bicolor and G. mitratus, Miiller, from Sumatra, 

 perhaps belong to this section. An interesting account of the 

 habits of G. cliinensis in confinement is recorded by Blyth, 

 from Mr. Frith, which, as throwing light on the manners of the 

 group, I shall here transcribe: "The bird was excessively tame 

 and familiar, and delighted in being caressed and tickled by the 

 hand, when it would spread its wing, and assume very singular 

 attitudes. It was naturally a fine songster, and a most universal 

 imitator. Whenever chopped meat, or other food, was put into its 

 cage, it always evinced the propensity to deposit the bits one by 

 one between the wires ; and when a bee or wasp was offered, the 

 bird would seize it instantly, and invariably turn its tail round 

 and make the insect sting it several times successively before 

 eating it. A large beetle it would place on the ground and 

 pierce it with a violent downward stroke of its bill ; a small snake 

 (about a foot long) it treated in like manner, transfixing the centre 

 of the head ; it afterwards devoured about half the snake, holding 

 it by one foot, while it picked with the bill, as was its common 

 mode of feeding." Swinhoe relates that he has more than once 

 found the remains of small birds in the gizzard of G. perspicillatus, 

 and he states that it also pilfers eggs. 



The two next birds, with two others found out of our limits, 

 form a small group of allied species, of similar habits to those of 

 the last section, but with a particular coloration ; the bill is a trifle 

 more curved; and the nareal bristles almost conceal the nostrils. 



408. Garrulax cserulatus, Hodgson. 



Cinclosoma, apud Hodgs., As. Res. XIX. — Blyth, Cat. 487 — 

 HoRSF., Cat. 291 — Tarmol-pho, Lcpch. — Piang-lzam, Bhot. 



The Grey-sided Laughing-thrush. 

 Descr. — Above rich olive-brown, tinged with chesnut ; the head 

 darker, with some black marks, each feather being narrowly tipped 



