6 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



observations. Almost everywhere within 

 its range, the bird shows a preference for 

 l)articular spots, over which it holds sway 

 and even seems to stick to these favoured 

 haunts in spite of devastations by occasional 

 fires, which break out in the forests. 



The Sliama thus chooses for its habita- 

 tion places where Nature is luxuriant and 

 arrayed in its varied glories. In the morn- 

 ings and evenings, from the midst of a 

 bush or a bamboo-sci-ub — for which it seems 

 to have a partiality — it mingles its im- 

 petuous melody with the music of rustling 

 leaves and murmuring rills. And, while 

 rapt in its own song, the least sound will 

 send it scurrying through the air — so shy 

 and easily alarmed it is ! But its flight is 

 never long ; and re-alighting at a short 

 distance, it vanishes into leafy cover, whence 

 it renews its song with as much visrour. 

 When the usual notes are thus suddenlv 

 interrupted, the bird gives out a sort of 

 monosyllabic sound, which Legge says 

 resembles chur7^ churr. But to me it hears 



