The Common Birds of the Nilgiris 



Every thicket, every tree — nay, every bush on 

 the hills — has its pair of bulbuls. This species 

 has distinctive plumage. Its most striking 

 feature is a perky crest, which arises from the 

 crown of the head and terminates in a forwardly- 

 directed point, like Mr. Punch's cap. The 

 crest is black and gives the bird a very saucy 

 air. The wings and tail are dark brown, but 

 each feather has a pale edge, which makes a 

 pattern like scales on a fish. Below the eye 

 is a brilliant patch of crimson. A similarly- 

 coloured but larger patch is displayed at the 

 base of the tail. The lower part of the cheek 

 is white ; this is divided off from the snowy 

 breast by a narrow black band. The breast is, 

 in its turn, separated from the greyish abdomen 

 by a broad black band, which ornithologists 

 term a collaret. Sometimes the collaret is 

 interrupted in the middle. The hill-bulbul 

 is a most vivacious bird. From dawn to 

 sunset it is an example of perpetual motion. 

 Its vocal cords are as active as its wings. The 

 tinkling sounds of this bulbul form the domi- 

 nant notes of the bird chorus. Husband and 

 wife almost always move about in company. 

 They flit from tree to tree, from bush to bush, 

 plucking raspberries and other hill fruit as 



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