IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 187 



Length or life in captivity. 



The longest period during which one has lived in the garden has 

 been a little over three years. 



Treatment in health. 



With respect to housing, feeding, &c, it may be treated like the 

 other laughing thrushes. It has never been tried as a cage-bird, and 

 would probably not do well in a small cage. 



In appetite it is less carnivorous than the other thrushes. 



Observations on the habits of the Striated Laughing 

 Thrush. 



It is very sociable and extremely restless. Its peculiar call referred 

 to by Jerdon as " not unlike the clucking of a hen which has just laid 

 an egg " may also be frequently heard in captivity while it is engaged 

 in searching for food on the ground, or picking up earth or grass. 

 When tame, it inquisitively follows a visitor from one side of the cage to 

 the other. 



(20) THE JUNGLE BABBLEE. 



(CKATEROPUS CANOKUS— {Linn.) ) 



Bengali — Chhataria, Sdtbhaia, or seven brothers. 



Extremely common in every part of Bengal. The colouring of the 



plumage is subject to great variation, according to season and locality. 



The younger birds and those that have recently moulted are much 



lighter in colour than those of which the feathers have become old. 



Hab. — It is found all over India, ascending the hills to about 

 5,000 feet ; always found within the garden in a wild state. 



Length of life in captivity. 



As they are extremely common about Calcutta and almost as intru- 

 sive as house-crows, specimens are now and then caught and placed in 

 a large aviary, so that it is impossible to give an idea as to the period 

 one has lived in captivity. 



Observations on the habits of the Jungle Babbler. 



They are as much arboreal as they are terrestrial; their habit of 

 making a cup-shaped hole on the ground for the purpose of a dust-bath 

 (which they take with their wings spread out) is well known ; they 

 are extremely noisy birds ; very sociable amongst themselves, although 

 occasionally given to much fighting. 



(21) THE BLACK-HEADED SIBIA. 



(LIOPTILA CAPISTKATA— (Fig.) ) 



Description. — All about the head black; back and scapulars brown, 

 washed with grey; all round the neck, the whole lower plumage, 



