Indian Birds 
7-9. The Crateropus Babblers, or “ Seven 
Sisters.” 
These are all untidy-looking, earthy-brown 
birds about the size of mynas. They go about 
in little flocks, whence the name “ Seven 
Sisters,” or “ Sath Bhai.” ‘They feed largely 
on the ground, seeking for insects among dead 
leaves. While feeding they keep up a con- 
stant chatter which every now and then grows 
very loud, sounding like a combination of a 
squeak and the groans of a revolving axle that 
requires to be oiled. They continually jerk 
the tail, which has the appearance of being 
very loosely inserted. So untidy-looking are 
these birds that Eha likens them to “ Old 
Jones, who spends the day in his pyjamas.” 
Their flight is feeble and laborious. Three 
species are common : 
7. Crateropus canorus: The Jungle Babbler. 
(F. 110), (J. 432), (IIT.) 
This bird is abundant in Northern India, 
and becomes rarer in the south, where it is 
largely replaced in the plains by the two next 
species. (Illus. B. C., p. 15.)* 
* At Allahabad the Large Grey Babbler (4rgya mal- 
comi) (F. 107), or Gangai, is more abundant even than 
C, canorus. It-may be recognised by its long tail, 
7m, 
“~ -96 
