THE SEVEN SISTERS. 25 



inhabit Africa and the Oriental region only. Our 

 iamiliar suburban friend, which is found all over 

 India, is the only one about here in a wild state 

 though seveilM of his more or less close relatives may 

 te met with at bird-dealer's places, including the 

 abovementioned huaimei ' of China, recognizable by 

 its russet plumage and white eyebrows, and another 

 species common to that country and Further India, 

 the slate-coloured, white-cheeked Chinese mocking- 

 bird or peko (Dryonastes chinensis), which, though 

 obviously of the vulgar Babbler family, is a finer 

 songster than almost any bird I have heard, and a 

 mocker to boot. Soine day, possibly, when people 

 begin to realize that desirable birds can be cultivated 

 in gardens as well as desirable plants (the efforts of 

 humanity in the former direction hitherto having 

 been largely expended in the acclimatization of 

 nuisances) we may have the peko making our gardens 

 melodious and supplanting the " shrieking sisterhood " 

 altogether — a consummation devoutly to be wished, 

 although, till some such better bird takes their place, 

 their industriously insectivorous habits may give 

 them a raison d'etre. 



