84 BIRDS IN SINGAPORE. 
storm of rain. On another occasion I saw one furiously attack a 
squirrel (Nanosciurus exilis) which was climbing ona tree and 
knock it off the branch to the ground. Again the squirrel attempt- 
ed to climb up, and again it was struck to the ground; even then 
the Murai pursued it till it fled to refuge in the bushes, still 
pursued by the bird. 
In courting the female, the cock birds hop on the grass 
with their wings trailing on the ground, to show off the 
contrast of their black and white plumage, and then dash at one 
another, till the stronger bird has driven its rivals away. 
It is often said that tropical birds have no song, but no one 
who has listened to the melody of the so-called Burmese nightingale 
(Cittocincla macrura) “ Murai gila” willagree to this. This beauti- — 
ful songster frequents the thicker parts of the woods, often in 
some number, at certain times of the year, and though it seldom 
leaves the woods, it may be drawn tothe edge by whistling the 
first few bars of its song, when it will come quite close and pour 
forth its melody several times in succession. If one bird sings in 
the wood, others will be sure to come and sing also. Unfortunately 
it does not stay long with us, being apparently a migrant. The 
song is as full and rich as that of a nightingale, which indeed it 
somewhat resembles. The bird itself resembles the Murai, but is 
more slender, with a long tail and a red breast. 
Perhaps our commonest bird is the Bulbul. (Prenonene 
analis). “‘Merebah.” It nests in March every year, in the bushes, 
often in quite conspicuous places, sometimes putting the nest on 
the leaf of afan palm, close to the attachment of the blade and 
stalk. The nest is made of bents and roots and is quite a slight 
structureas arule. It lays two eggs, thickly spotted with dark 
red all over but especially at the broad end, where there is 
often aring of darker spots. It is an omnivorous bird, devouring 
small fruits of all kinds, especially those: of the Waringin (/%eus 
Benjamina) and the cinnamons, and is very troublesome. when 
the fruit is wanted for any purpose, often clearing the whole tree 
and disseminating seeds in all kinds of places, where young trees 
come up in the most unexpected manner. It, however, atones for 
the trouble it gives to some extent by destroying a good many 
injurious insects such as grasshoppers and termites. If a large 
hawk appears in the gardens it is the bulbuls which flock to- 
gether to mob and annoy it. It is rather curious to see a male 
