250 



Catalogue of the Birds 



pairs, or small families, feeds chief! v on fruit, being destructive to pease 

 and other garden produce, bat also occasionally on insects, frequently 

 repeating its usual note while hopping about the branches, and wander- 

 ing from tree to tree. It flies in a direct manner with a quick flapping 

 of its wings, and usually uttering its note when on the win^. It is very 

 commonly caged in the Carnatic, and kept for fighting, which it does 

 with some spirit, and it is said that the antagonists often seize each other 

 by the red under tail coverts, and endeavour to pull them out. The 

 bulbul is also said to imitale the notes of various other birds in con- 

 finement. 



77. — W» jocosus. — Lanius jocosus, L. — Pharee Bulbul, H — Hill or 

 jungle Bulbul. 



This sprightly and pleasing bird is in general found in the Peninsula, 

 only in lofty jungle, as well as on the East Coast (as in Goomsoor), as 

 the West Coast; but I have also seen it in low bushy ground on the sea 

 coast, between Calicut and Tellicherry, and it is most abundant on the 

 summit of the Neilgherries, in gardens, and shrubby ground. It is a most 

 lively and active bird, always on the move, and warbling its pleasant 

 chirruping notes, which are much sweeter than those of the common 

 bulbul. It lives chiefly on fruit and seeds, but also on insects occasi- 

 onally, which I have seen it picking off the ground. Its flight is like 

 that of the last, steady, but not rapid, and its crest is never erected dur- 

 ing flight, but always the moment it alights. A deserted nest was 

 pointed out to me, in a low shrub close to a house in Ootacamund, as 

 that of the hill bulbul. It was very neatly m ide with moss, lichen, 

 small roots and twigs, and well lined with hair and down. 



Irides yellow brown ; length varies from 7 to 8 inches. Specimens 

 from the Neilgherries are larger than those from the coast. 



Sub-Family MYOTHERINJE, Swainson.— Ant Thrushes. 

 Genus MYOTHERA, 111. 

 Sub Genus BRACHYPTERYX, Horsf.— Short-wing. 



78. — B. atriceps. — New species ? — Black-headed short wing. 



I know not if this little species has been described or not, so shall for 

 the present consider it as new. It is only found, as far as my observa- 

 tions extend, among the thickest underwood in dense lofty jungle. I 

 have seen it in the Trichoor and Wurguncherry jungles, and also on the 

 Coonoor ghaut, and in the Wynaud. It is a restless lively little bird 



