Family PYCNONOTIDE. 
Genus PYCNONOTUS. 
Turdus apud Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 295 (1766). 
“ Pycnonotus, Kuhl,” Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 973. 
Jus apud Ehrenberg, Symb. Phys. Aves, fol. 6b (1829). 
Hematornis apud Lesson, Rey. Zool. p. 98 (1840). 
Izvos apud Fraser, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1843, p. 27. 
THE birds comprised in this genus inhabit the Ethiopian Region down to South Africa, the 
south and south-eastern portions of the Western Palearctic Region, and the Oriental Region 
down to Sumatra and Malacca. ‘Three species only are found within the limits of the Western 
Palearctic Region, two being residents, whereas the third is only a rare straggler from South 
Africa. A fourth species, Pycnonotus arsinoé (Licht.), is found close to the borders of our region 
in North-east Africa, but cannot justly be included as a Western Palearctic bird. In habits 
the Bulbuls are said to resemble the Babblers (Argya). They frequent bush-covered localities, 
and are said to evince a partiality for places not far from the sea. ‘They are noisy and garrulous 
like Jays; and their flight resembles that of those birds. They feed on insects, berries, and fruit, 
and are extremely partial to oranges. ‘Their nest, which they usually place in fruit-trees, 
resembles that of the Woodchat; and they lay dull white eggs, closely marked with purplish 
grey and dull red spots and blotches. 
Pycnonotus capensis, the type of the genus, has the bill moderately long, slightly decurved ; 
nostrils oval, basal, placed in the anterior part of the nasal depression; gape furnished with a 
few tolerably strong bristles; wings rather short, broad, and rounded, the first quill short, the 
second rather shorter than the ninth, the fourth, fifth, and sixth nearly equal and longest; tail 
moderately long, nearly square ; tarsi tolerably strong, covered in front with one plate and three 
inferior scutelle; feet moderately stout, the hind toe rather strong, claws moderate, curved, 
acute, laterally grooved. 
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