20 PET BIEDS OF BENGAL 



the morning, and when all nature is silent 

 in the evening, their cheerful music ring.^ 

 out a farewell to the departing day. 



The Dliayal is indeed a superb singer. 

 With its presence in the gardens, orchards, 

 barnsides, and the backyards of houses, it i-^ 

 one of the attractions of our rural surroun- 

 dinofs. The semi-domestic nature of the 

 bird has left it in comparative liberty, and 

 though it is often caged, people have not 

 the same rage for it as they have for the 

 more unfamiliar Shama. Legge says that, 

 like the latter, the Dhayal is a mimic ; it 

 can roll its tongue in imitation of other 

 birds. Layard also records that its power 

 of mimicry manifests itself in its wild life as 

 well. This, if true, is singular, as it is unlike 

 other birds that have similar habits. Even 

 the parrots do not show this trait while at 

 large. The Dhayals in my own aviary, 

 however, do not "degrade" their voice, a.s 

 has been observed also by Gould, ''l^y apish 

 tricks of imitation." The Dhayal'.s pugna- 

 cious instinct makes it a special favourite 



