282 Bilds in and aboicl the Station {^Bakloli). 
Bi^^s m an^ about tbe Station (Bab^lob). 
By Capt. G. A. Pekkkau, F.Z.S. 
The Indian White-eye. 
(^Co7iti7nccd /)ovi page 221.) 
Tbe attempt to meat off the first pair was made at first 
with live mealworms, insect food and ripe wild cherries. Cherries 
only were eaten and apparently tliis was not enough, for the heu 
died. I noticed that the cock drank a good deal, so I took away 
the water, substituting bread and milk. He took to the milk at 
once and when he found that the milk-soaked bread was good 
and later that sponge cake was better still, I had no bother with 
the other White-eyes. 
The\' are very aujusing to watch at the start of a shower. 
I have several nice tipari (Gape gooseberry) bushes in tiie aviary. 
The leaves are fairly large and somewhat liairj'and so hold water 
fairly well. At the first few drops, down come the While-eyes 
and suck the water off the leaves. I don't know whether the 
leaves impart any flavour to the water or not. As the leaves get 
wetter the little birds have a regular bath on them. My Pas.ser- 
ine Parrakeets and Hanging Parrakeets also make good attempts 
at following their example, but the leaves are hardly strong 
enough. Only the latter suck the water off the leaves. There is 
nothing strange in this method of bathing for Parrakeets, but I 
was surprised to see White-eyes doing it, more especiall}'' as I 
have often seen them both in freedom and captivity taking a bath 
in the ordinary way. 
My present birds do not seem nearh^ as keen on insects as 
my old ones, which is a pity as regards taming them. They 
simply disregard my presence in the aviar\% but show no signs 
of greeting me as a tit-bit giver, as most of my insectivorous 
birds have done in a very short time. I ought perhaps to have 
kept them caged longer. Probably too, the hill White-eyes are 
less insectivorous than the Plains ones, simply from force of 
circu mstances. 
They seem to be fairly frequentl}' imported, but few people 
seem to have them. Last year at home I saw a good many birds, 
but only two of this species; tliej' were beauties. They look 
such delicate little birds (which they are not, according to my 
