63 



look larger tliau lie really is. His chief colouring is rich 

 glossy blue-black, with a breast and under-parts of 

 bright tawny brown. He has a pure white patch just 

 over the tail, and the under feathers of the tail are also 

 white. 



The cock has a lovely ever-changing song. So 

 beautifully does he modulate his voice, from very loud 

 notes to a soft whisper, that he rather gives one the idea 

 that he is rehearsing an opera of his own, and taking all 

 the different parts himself. The hen bird is soft drab 

 where her lord is black. Both birds have round dark 

 eyes, very bright and intelligent, and more like those of 

 an English Robin than any bird I know ; there is, too, a 

 sprightliness about a Sliamah that is very attractive. 



M}' birds are easily kept in excellent health on a 

 very simple diet. In the morning they have bought 

 insectivorous bird food mixed with grated carrot, and in 

 the afternoon ants' eggs, soaked first in hot water and 

 then strained ; all the old food from the morning being 

 of course taken awa}-, as it might turn sour. 



There are many good foods for insectivorous birds in 

 the market, personally I always use that made by 

 Mr. Arthur, of Melksham, Wiltshire. Besides these two 

 staple articles of diet my Shamahs have a few meal- 

 worms every day (the hen, " Minii," is very clever at 

 catching them when thrown to her) or a few house 

 beetles (not poisoned ones) or an occasional moth, the 

 latter being a special dainty. All my three birds were in 

 poor plumage when I got them, for their soft feathers 

 soon seem to get damaged, but now they are in their new 

 coats, and as glossx- and smooth as satin. 



Anyone getting a vShamah will find it will readily 

 take a mealworm from the hand, even while in its 

 tiavelling cage, and soon it will get to know its name, 

 and will come when called and perch on your wrist. 

 My first Shaniah " Phil " is very intelligent : he is a great 

 pet, and lives in the house during the winter. I often 

 carry a small box of mealworms about with me for the 

 benefit of my feathered friends, and the moment '• Phil " 



