194 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



Treatment in health. 



Housing, — May be kept in a small cage as well as in a large aviary. 

 A favourite mode of keeping this bird with the Indian bird fanciers is to 

 carry it on the fingers or on an ornamental perch, one end of a piece 

 of string about a yard long being lightly attached to one of the legs of 

 the bird, the other to the finger or the perch. 



Food. — Fruits, satoo, &c. 



Breeding. — They breed largely within the garden in a wild state ; 

 the breeding season lasts from February to June; the nests are cup- 

 shaped and made of fibres, dry leaves and grass ; of the 25 nests found 

 in one year, more than half were built on croton bushes ; the eggs are 

 three to four in number. 



Treatment in sickness. 



Nothing particular is known of their ailments in captivity in this 

 garden. 



Observations on the habits of the Bengal Red-vented 

 Bulbul. 



This bulbul has been known to become very tame, and, when properly 

 trained, learns to perform some small tricks. 



(30) THE WHITE-CHEEKED BULBUL. 



(MOLPASTES LEUCOGENYS— {Gray.) ) 



Description. — About eight inches in length ; upper plumage olive- 

 brown, lower plumage earthy-brown ; lower tail-coverts pale yellow ; 

 ear- coverts white ; lores black with a narrow white streak above them. 

 Bill black ; legs plumbeous. 



Hab. — Found in the Himalayas up to about 7,000 feet. 



Length of life in captivity. 



These birds have generally proved short-lived in captivity in this 

 garden. 



(31) THE WHITE-EARED BULBUL. 

 (MOLPASTES LEUCOTIS— (Gould.) ) 



Description. — Excepting the ear-coverts and the hinder parts of the 

 cheek, which are white, the whole head is black; hind neck brown; upper 

 plumage dull-brown; the lower plumage whitish-brown; under tail- 

 coverts rich yellow. Total length about 7 inches. 



Hab. — Western and North-Western India, and not uncommon 

 in Central India and Central Provinces. 



