14 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



the propriety of in-breeding and even trying 

 any experiment of cross-breeding a Shama 

 with an English bird Uke the Robin. 



In this country it thrives well on satoo 

 prepared with boiled ghee, grass-hoppers, 

 and a few maggots. In England it is given 

 cock-roaches, mealworms, gentles, ants' eggs 

 and the yolk of hard-boiled eggs. Pieces 

 of raw meat are also given, but this should 

 be sparingly used, for too much of this food 

 may bring on diarrhoea. Ordinarily the 

 Shama does not require any great attention. 

 But at the time of moulting, careful watch- 

 ing and feeding are necessary, for then it 

 is susceptible to a kind of warty growth on 

 the legs and feet and the space immediately 

 above the eyes. It should be carefully 

 guarded against cold and draughts during 

 the period. 



Its song loses none of its charm in con- 

 finement. Besides its usual song, it has a 

 habit of uttering a few set phrases over and 

 over again, pausing after each utterance. 

 These repetitions are rendered in the verna- 



