THE



Avicultural Magazine


THE JOURNAL OF THE

AVICULTURAL SOCIETY



Fourth Series. —Vol. XII.—No. 5 .-—All rights reserved. MAY, 1934



THE BLACK-CHINNED YUHINA


(Tuhina gularis)


By A. Sherriff, F.Z.S.


The birds portrayed in the accompanying drawing are inhabitants

of Nepal, Sikhim, and Bhutan. There is nothing particularly striking

about their colouring but their continuous activity and sharp move¬

ments make them most attractive as aviary birds. Like the Black¬

headed Sibia they are never still. They have no song, but a low “ tsee

tsee 55 is frequently uttered and the note of alarm is somewhat similar

to the trumpet of the Zebra Finch in a lower tone, continually repeated.

Like the Sibia they have the habit of sitting next to one another with

their tails crossed.


Heat is, of course, necessary during the winter but for the size

of the bird they are extraordinarily hardy. In captivity they do well

on ordinary insect food, grapes, honey and milk and they are particularly

fond of the last. If meal-worms are cut up they will in time eat them but

too many are bad.


They are best kept in an aviary with an outdoor flight because in

cages they fight, and it is amazing the injuries they inflict on one another

and equally extraordinary how quickly they recover.


There is no outward sex difference and no record of them having

been bred. It is unfortunate that they are not more often imported for

they are most attractive aviary birds.



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