BIRDS IN SINGAPORE. 85. 
courting the female. Erecting the tuft on the top of its head and 
holding its wings up in the air so.that they are back to back it hops 
solemnly upon the ground to the admiration of its mate. At 
the courting season the topknot attains its full growth, and the 
feathers beneath the tail are of a brilliant yellow, so that it has 
rather an attractive appearance. 
The large olive Bulbul (Pycnonotus plumosus) the ‘‘ Merebah 
Rimbah” of the Malays, a plain brown bird with yellowish patches 
on its wing's, is not rare in the gardens, generally frequenting 
the thicker jungles. I found a nest close to the gardens in some 
ferns a couple of feet from the ground. ‘There were two young 
birds init which the old birds were feeding on grasshoppers. 
The Meadow-pipit (A nthus Ma/laccensis) is very common in 
grassy spots, and also nests here. I have seen birds collect- 
ing bits of grass in June, evidently for a nest, and once found 
one in a depression in the ground with a young bird in it. 
The Wagtail (otacilla viridis) is only a visitant, though 
appearing in numbers at certain seasons. It does not appear to 
breed here. 3 
The little brown shrike (Lanius cristatus) is a fairly com- 
mon visitor. It can often be seen perched on a twig’ in open 
country or on the telegraph wires, whence it darts on passing 
insects. 
The Green Tody (Calyptomena viridis), a lovely little green 
bird, with something of the appearance of a small parrot, may 
at times be seen in the denser wooded spots, quickly passing 
from thicket to thicket, and concealing itself among the green 
leaves. I have seen it in Selangor darting about to catch white 
ants when swarming. 
A very pretty little bird, resembling a goldfinch in the 
bright yellow and black of its plumage and its habits, is Agithina 
tiphia. It frequents the Waringin trees especially, and may 
often be seen in pairs seeking insects among the branches. It 
nests in the gardens, as I have seen young birds unable to fly 
there, but I never found its nest. 
The Tailor-bird, Orthotomus ruficeps is very common in the 
fern and open thickets and may often be heard twittering as it 
creeps about in search of insects. It has much the habits of the 
English Wren. The male is brown with a bright red head, the 
female is entirely brown. 
