TItc Prccding of the Indian Shama. 151 



On May i-Hli both were turned into a small outdoor 

 aviary, allocated solely to them, as I judi^ed there would thus 

 be a better chance of successfully breedini; them. 



The hen almost at once conunenced to build a nest in a 

 cork-covered box I had set u]) for the i)m-i)ose. with a small 

 entrance hole. Her husband didn't do a " hand's turn " at the 

 Imildini;- and contented himself with sin.^ing' to her as she 

 worked away. 



On May 17th the first e,!4i;' was laid, and one on each suc- 

 ceedinj^' day until five were in the nest. 



As in the building", so in incubatinsj;', all the work fell to 

 the hen, Init the cock took the .greatest interest in the proceed- 

 ing's, frequently taking" up a position from which he could catch 

 a glimpse of his wife, as she sat on the eggs. On these occa- 

 sions she often showed her pleasure at this attention by singing" 

 loudly, when he at once became very excited. 



( )n June 1st three yoiuig" birds were hatched out and one 

 on the following" day, nothing" resulting from the remaining 



eg-g-. 



( )n the fourth day after hatching the ridges of the wing 

 feathers were clearly visible and the young" had assumed a dusky 

 hue. On the eighth day I noticed they were covered with quills 

 which conmienced to burst on the following" day, and on the 

 eleventh day the first young" bird left the nest, the rest making" 

 their exit the next day. All were able to fly quite respectably. 

 The food supplied was live ants' cocoons, cockroaches (which 

 they were very fond of. and are an invaluable food), gentles, 

 and mealworms. I was advised to g"ive the last-named cut up. 

 but I am not satisfied that this is a wise plan, as in the operation 

 of killing" which all food has to go through, the inside is 

 spueezed out, and practically only the skin served to the 

 younger. A better plan, to my mind, is only to provide small 

 mealworms in the early stages, merely pinching" the head of 

 each worm in a pair of forceps which effectually kills them. 



After leaving" the nest the young" progressed rapidly, very 

 soon learning to take baths and comb their hair, and, T noticed 

 the young cock — the only one, I think, of his sex in the brood- 

 making" a very g'ood attempt at singing" six days after leaving 

 the nest. 



