290 BOMBAY DUCKS 



avine melodies of the homeland ; and from his point 

 of view he is undoubtedly right. Here in India the 

 associations are wanting which endear to him the voices 

 of the feathered folk at home. Yet a real live nightin- 

 gale sometimes visits India. It is true that the melodious 

 bird does not venture far into that uninviting land. 

 Nevertheless the Persian nightingale {Daulias golzi) 

 does pay parts of the Punjab a visit in the cold weather. 

 Many are taken to Calcutta in captivity. Since a good 

 specimen will fetch as much as Rs.200 in the Calcutta 

 market, it is not surprising that some men make it 

 their profession, and a cruel profession it is, to catch, 

 imprison, and then send these birds to the city by the 

 Hooghly. 



Of the permanent residents in India, the shama 

 {Cittocincla macrura) is perhaps the finest singer. This 

 bird is not likely to be heard in any large town. It 

 loveth not the unseemly din of the city. It lives 

 among shady hills, and, if we would hear its splendid 

 voice in its full magnificence, we must betake ourselves 

 to one or other of the great forests of India. A fine 

 songster, nearly related to the shama, and which is 

 found in nearly all parts of India, is the magpie robin 

 or dhyal {Copsychiis saularis). This is a charming 

 creature, having the confiding habits of the robin, the 

 bright colouring of the magpie, and the voice of the 

 canary. It is nearly always found near human habita- 

 tions. It is essentially a garden bird, nesting in holes 

 in trees, or buildings. I once found a magpie robin's 

 nest in the dilapidated wall of a stable. It generally 

 breeds from April to July. 



