186 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



(No. 15) . The white-spotted laughing thrush does fairly well as a cage- 

 bird, if only one or a pair be kept in a small cage, but they do better in 

 a large aviary. It is of great importance that something like occupation 

 should be given to these, and for that matter to all other birds in 

 captivity, as otherwise they suffer as it were from ennui, which brings 

 on other diseases. Baskets with plants hung from the roof, shingles, 

 small pieces of stones and green turf laid on the floor, also mirrors and 

 bells, are some of the objects which may be used with advantage in an 

 aviary, as they not only serve the purpose of decoration, but occupy the 

 time of the inmates. 



Food. — The same remarks, as have been made with regard to the 

 food of the white-crested laughing thrush, apply to these birds also. 

 Although none of these have ever been observed to kill large centipedes 

 and insects with the same ferocity as the former, yet they are as persis- 

 tent in their search for these articles of food as that bird. No oppor- 

 tunity of supplying them with earth-worms, insects and similar articles 

 of diet should be lost. 



Transport. — The best time for bringing them to the plains is 

 the winter, as otherwise the sudden change from the cool, bracing 

 climate of the hills to the sultry heat of Bengal greatly affects them. 

 If it is intended to send them across the sea, they should be sufficiently 

 tamed and accustomed to the change of food. 



Treatment in sickness. 



A white-necked laughing thrush once suffered from an overgrown 

 beak, and it was curious that, after the superfluous growth had been 

 filed off, it grew again, and ultimately caused the death of the bird. 



Observations on their habits. 



They are identical in habits with the white-crested laughing 

 thrush ; the gorgetted and the white-necked thrushes are more arboreal 

 than the others, whereas the white-spotted laughing-thrush is fond of 

 sitting hidden amidst the foliage, and is decidedly less noisy than the 

 others. The white-throated laughing thrush is sociable and somewhat 

 inquisitive ; its habit of making friends with other birds is very inter- 



(19) THE STRIATED LAUGHING THRUSH. 

 (GEAMMATOPTILA STEIATA— {Tig) ) 



Description. — Light brown in colour, forehead tinged with umber- 

 brown, beneath paler-brown ; all the feathers of the body, both above 

 and below, are longitudinally striated with yellowish white streaks, those 

 on the abdomen being longer and wider than those on the back. Bill 

 black, sometimes horny black, legs dusky plumbeous, iris reddish brown. 



Hab. — Is found in the Himalayas from the valley of the Sutlej to 

 Bhutan, at elevations from 6,000 to 9,000 feet. 



