110 A List of Birds from the Kha&i hilU [No. 2, 



One of these birds kept by me at Clierra Punji sang a number of 

 different bars, in a very loud key, one so piercing, it was quite dis- 

 agreeable to be near it, — yet he would often twitter in a low very 

 melodious way. These different calls never followed each other in 

 succession, but after long intervals, and when he commenced a song, 

 it was kept up for some time. On the sight of a fresh shot bird, its 

 favorite food, he became extremely noisy, or to call attention to its 

 wants on approaching the cage would make a gurgling noise in the 

 throat. He hung the food about the bars of the cage, or stuck 

 it away in corners. After about six months in confinement, he 

 became very imitative, picked up the crowing of a cock, and was 

 perfect at the cackling of a hen after laying. These birds never re- 

 tain their lovely chrysophrase green colour in captivity, they soon 

 lose it, and although the above bird moulted in confinement, the 

 new feathers were a dull antwerp blue, with the slightest tinge of 

 green on the head at first, which very soon disappeared. 



674. Dendrocitta rufa, S c o p o 1 i. 



Irides dark brown; called " Kashkussi" in Cachar. Length 17 

 inches, wing 7", tail 10". 



676. Dendrocitta Sinensis, Lath. 



683. Sturnopastor contra, Lin. 



Irides pale yellow. This bird is as common in Cachar, as the 

 Myna, A. tristis, next mentioned. The Cachar bird is S. superciliaris 

 of Blyth. The white supercilium and white on forehead is very 

 marked in the birds from this eastern side of India. 



684. Acrulot/ieres tristis, Linn. 



688. Temenuchus Malabarica, G m e 1 i n. 



693. Eulabes intermedia, H. Ha y. 



Family, Fringillid^e. 



694. JPloceus baya, Blyth. 



698. Munia rubronigra, H o dg. 



699. Munia undulata, Lath. 

 735. Hcematospiza sipahi, H o d g. 



This bird is often captured by the Khasias at Surarim and 

 brought in for sale. 



742. Propasser rJwdockrous, Vigors. 



