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A. Hampe—Singing Birds of the Far East



SINGING BIRDS OF THE FAR EAST


By Alex Hampe


In the September number of our Magazine Mrs. Wharton-Tigar

describes various foreign songsters. Having lived for over twenty-

seven years in China and Japan, I take the liberty to give my experience

with some Softbills of these countries.


Pride of place I must give to the Spectacled Laughing Thrush

(Janthocincla canorum (L.)). Tastes differ, of course, but in my opinion

a really good Huamee (the Chinese name for our bird, meaning

“ Flowery Eyebrow ”) beats a very good Shama. As with other

Songsters, there is naturally a great difference as to vocal qualities

amongst the Huamees. Keally good singers rarely reach the European

bird-market. What is commonly offered here are mostly hens, which

do not sing, or freshly caught young cocks which are often poor singers

and as a rule very wild. A well-trained Huamee cock with a good voice

is a delightful pet and highly prized by the Chinese bird-fancier, who

is rarely willing to part with such a bird. Of the same family I have

found the small Masked Babbler (J. cinereiceps) a good singer and an

agreeable cagebird. He is not often imported. Also Berthemy’s Laughing

Thrush (J. berthemyi) has very clear notes and is a good bird for the

aviary. Of Bockthrushes occurring in China, I have had Monticola

gularis and Monticola philippinensis, the Whitethroated and the

Asiatic Blue Bockthrush. The former has a lovely song and is a very

handsome bird. It passes the Yangtze valley during spring and autumn

migration, and a few examples are then generally in the Shanghai

bird market, but if one wants them, one has to be quick, for they are

eagerly sought for by the Chinese fanciers. Only very few have come

to Europe during the last years. Of the Asiatic Blue Bockthrush,

I had one cock which was one of the tamest birds I have come across

and full of character. He sang very freely, not loud but very very

sweet and also late in the evening when the light was on. I think

this species has nested in Mr. Ezra’s aviaries.


A good singer well known by most of us is the Dyal Thrush. The

Chinese keep it chiefly for its fighting qualities and the birds of the

Shanghai and Hongkong market are all hand-reared and consequently



