16' PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



the same aviary, none would even bathe. 

 Because a bath means wet plumage which 

 means damaged armour to a bird, and a wet 

 bird succumbs easily if attacked. In one 

 case it cost a Shama its life for bathing in 

 an aviary where it had a pugnacious 

 companion. 



The Shama is easily available for pur- 

 chase all over the country. Birds caught 

 young in the Terai are brought down in 

 numbers to Grorakhpur and Monghyr to be 

 hand-reared. These birds take to cage-life 

 easily ; but those from Midnapore, generally 

 Caught while adult, very often pine away 

 in captivity. 



The Shama' s outward appearance is 



beautiful and striking, if not gaudy. The 



head, back, and throat with the 



Coloration neck and breast are black with a 



splendid gloss throughout. * All 



the underparts are a rich bright chestnut 



* I have, however, noticed Shamas with chestnut 

 streaks just above both the eyes — a thin straight line 

 elongated bothways towards the nape and the mandible 

 but not reaching those parts. 



