432 Mr. F. Finn on the 



Another common Starling {Sturnopastor contra) is fre- 

 quently seen caged^ and from its very sweet liquid notes is 

 certainly better suited than any other of its family for a 

 pet. It does not appear to have been noticed that the 

 coloration of the soft parts of the young of this species is 

 quite different from that of the adult, the hill and legs being 

 black, with the inside of the former orange, while in old 

 birds the legs are white and the bill orange and white, with 

 the inside of the mouth black. 



All the other common Indian Starlings may be seen at times 

 caged in Calcutta, namely : — Acridotheres ginginianus, 

 ^thiopsar fuscus, Sturnus menzbieri, Pastor roseus, Teme- 

 nuchus pagodarum, and Sturnia malabarica. The last two 

 are known as Paivi, and this title is shared by Sturnia 

 andamanensis, which is occasionally imported and is called 

 " Sada Paivi," Sada meaning " white. ^' Graculipica nigricollis 

 is also brought in small numbers from China, The male is 

 a most amusing bird, with his habit of erecting his crest and 

 bowing and muttering to visitors. 



Family Muscicapid^. 



The only Flycatchers I have seen in captivity here are 

 Stoparola melanops and Niltava sundara, of which a few have 

 been brought down from the North and have thriven very 

 well on the so^o-and-maggot regime. 



Family T u r d i d iE. 



As in other countries, the birds of this family are popular 

 captives here. In fact, if a census of the cage-birds of 

 Calcutta were taken, I should expect the Shama {Cittocincla 

 macrura) to come very near the head of the list, as it is 

 extensively kept, and thoroughly deserves its popularity on 

 account of its splendid song. Indeed, after the common 

 Green Parrot, it might, I think, be called the characteristic 

 cage-bird here. Many individuals are also sent to Europe, 

 where the species is yearly becoming better appreciated. 

 Both wild-caught birds and hand-reared fledglings, still in 

 the mottled plumage of immaturity, appear in the shops 



