TXUS SINENSIS. 



Chinese Bulbul. 



Le Gobe-mouche verddtre de la Chine, Sonn. Voy. Ind. Orient., ii. p. 197. 

 Wreathed Flycatcher, Lath. Gen. Syn., ii. pt. 1, p. 336. 

 Muscicapa sinensis, Gm. S. N., i. p. 942. 



Turdus occipitalis, Less. Traite d'Orn., p. 410.— Eydoux et Souleyet, Mag. de Zool. (1836), Oiseaux, pi. 66. 

 Pycnonotus sinensis, Blyth, J. A. S. B., xiv. p. 569— Id. Cat. B. Mus. A. S. B., p. 210—Horsf. & Moore, Cat. B. 

 Mus. E. I. Co., i. p. 246. 



occipitalis, Gray, Gen- B., i. p. 237.— Swinh. Ibis, 1861, p. 39. 



Ixus sinensis, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., i. p. 266.— Swinh, P. Z. S., 1871, p. 369. 



If I had wished to select one of the commonest Chinese birds I probably could not have chosen a fitter 

 subject for my Plate than the present species ; but, notwithstanding that it is one which has been more 

 than once figured, I cannot resist the opportunity of giving an illustration of the nest and young birds, 

 with which Mr. Swinhoe has kindly furnished me ; for although the species has been known for a long 

 time (ever since the time of Sonnerat) we have only lately become thoroughly acquainted with its 

 manners and economy. 



In his last list of Chinese birds Mr. Swinhoe gives the habitat as follows :— " Luichow to Shanghai and 

 westward to Szechuen, also in Formosa. Shanghai samples are larger, with the black of the crown 

 somewhat obscuring the white of the occiput ; Szechuen specimens have the occiput very white, with 

 a pale halter mark round the neck ; but both these varieties occasionally occur at Amoy." 



The best account of the species is that given by the Consul in 'The Ibis' for 1863, p. 289: 



"This is the commonest of the Pycnonotidce in Southern China; it is said to be also very common 

 in the Philippines, and in Formosa is our only species, being found in great abundance throughout all 

 the low country. My specimens vary chiefly in the proportions of white and black on the head. I have 

 one peculiar variety from Amoy. The Formosan form is essentially identical with the Chinese bird, 

 having no special peculiarities of its own. It is, however, a bird abundant on the coasts of both the 

 island and the main, and possesses no mean powers of flight; and, though usually resident in localities 

 where found, there could be no difficulty in supposing it occasionally to transport itself across the channel. 



"These birds subsist partly on insects, and partly on berries and small wild figs. In habits they 

 connect the Fringill<e and the Muscicapa;, assembling, like the former, in large flocks, and flying from tree 

 to tree in noisy concert in search of berries, and, like the latter, pursuing insects in the air. They have 

 no habits in common with the skulking Garrulax, preferring rather to show themselves tame and con- 

 spicuous ; no creeping from bush to bush, and chattering in low and coaxing whisper, in their case ; but, 

 perching on the tops or exposed parts of bushes and trees, they assemble and utter loud notes,— often, 

 when so engaged, ruffling their crests, rounding the back and tail, and making the tips of their wings 

 meet over their heads. Their notes are very varied, but strikingly peculiar, and I would try to syllable 

 them if there was any chance of conveying to the reader an idea of their natural sounds. In April they 

 commence nesting, but still keeping together in parties, which meet after the business of the day is over 

 and amuse themselves till nightfall. They mostly build three nests in the course of the season, occasionally 

 four, laying in the first nest usually five eggs, in the others that succeed three. In the interior the nest is 

 large and deep for the size of the bird ; it is usually made of grasses, lined with finer samples ; but in the 

 materials these birds are by no means particular, almost any thing they can gather, such as scraps of paper, 

 cotton, cloth, leaves, and feathers, being added. In the site, too, they are not regular; any bush or tree, of 

 almost any height from the ground, will serve their purpose ; and in the usual choice of their position they 

 show as little discernment as the Hedge-Sparrow {Accentor modularis) at home, frequently placing their 

 nests in most exposed situations. They generally nestle in gardens close to the habitations of Chinese, and, 

 being familiar birds, are protected. When their nest is approached they make a great chattering; but they 

 have far less to fear from man than from Magpies and Garrulaces. 



"Their eggs are of a purplish-white ground-colour, spotted closely and often confusedly with dark shades 

 of brownish purple-grey. They measure -9 by *65 inch." 



An amusing story is also related by the same gentleman (Ibis, 1870, p. 254) concerning the present 

 species or its Hainan relative :— " The Chinese writers of some centuries back call the Hainan Ixus by the 





