Birds of the Indian Hills 



frequent intervals tinkling notes that are blithe 

 and gay. 



Both the species of bulbul common in the 

 plains ascend the lower ranges of the Hima- 

 layas. These are the Bengal red-vented bulbul 

 {Molfastes bengalensis) and the Bengal red- 

 whiskered bulbul {Otocomfsa emerid). 



The addition of the adjective " Bengal " is 

 important, for every province of India has its 

 own special species of bulbul. 



The Molpastes bulbul is a bird about half 

 as big again as the sparrow, but with a longer 

 tail. The black head is marked by a short 

 crest. The cheeks are brown. There is a 

 conspicuous crimson patch under the tail. 

 The remainder of the plumage is brown, but 

 each feather on the body is margined with 

 creamy white, so that the bird is marked by a 

 pattern that is, as " Eha " pointed out, not 

 unlike the scales on a fish. Both ends of the 

 tail feathers are creamy white. 



Otocompsa is a far more showy bird. The 



crest is long and pointed and curves forward 



a little over the bill. There is the usual 



crimson patch under the tail and another on 



each cheek. The rest of the cheek is white, 



as is the lower plumage. A black necklace, 



so 



