Not found in the N.W. Frontier Province, the Punjab, United Provinces, Bengal, or the eastern portion of Madras. Usually occurs in the neighbourhood of shaded streams. Its note is a striking whistle.
[12]. Zosterops palpebrosa: The Indian White-eye, or Spectacle Bird. (F. 226), (J. 631), (-I.)
A greenish yellow bird, with bright yellow throat and a patch of yellow under the tail. The rest of the lower plumage is greyish white. The most noticeable feature of the bird is a ring of white feathers round the eye. Hence its popular name. White-eyes go about in large flocks; they feed largely on insects which they pick from off the leaves of trees. Each individual utters unceasingly a cheeping note. At the nesting season, which is usually at the beginning of the hot weather, the cock sings a sweet little song. The nest is a beautiful little cup suspended from a forked branch. Two pale blue eggs are usually laid. (Illus. G. B., p. 96.)
[13]. Ægithina tiphia: The Common Iora. (F. 243), (J. 468), (-I.)
Cock: (a) In summer upper plumage, wings, and tail are black; lower parts bright yellow. There are two white bars in the wing.
(b) In winter the black parts of the head and back are replaced by yellowish green.
Hen: Upper parts, wings, and tail green; lower parts yellow. Two white bars in the wing.
This species has a sweet song. It does not occur in the Frontier Province or the Punjab. “A little bird,” writes Eha, “like a tomtit, in black and yellow, followed by its mate in green and yellow, can be nothing else than the Iora.” Builds at the beginning of the hot weather a very neat and tiny cup-shaped nest. (Illus. B. B., p. 91, also G. B., p. 64.)
The Bulbuls, 14-22
[14]. Chloropsis Jerdoni. The Common Green Bulbul, or Jerdon’s Chloropsis. (F. 252), (J. 463), (-II.)