28 PET IJIRBS OF BENGAL 



our habitation little boxes or even earthen 

 pots which will be readily aceeptable to the 

 hird as its nestino' site. It is a beneficial 

 bird as far as its insect-feeding habit goes ; 

 and so, the more it is left to its liberty and 

 allowed to multiply, the better. 



The Dhayal does not appear to sing in 

 the same way all the year round. It has 

 been observed to be in fall choral activity 

 chiefly during the mating period viz., in 

 April and May. The bird seems at that 

 time to be possessed with a musical mania, 

 warbling forth its amorous notes, which by 

 reason of their volume, depth, variety, and. 

 sweetness sound perfect to the human ear. 

 From Au^rnsfc, its sons; be2:ias to los3 much 

 of its sweetness until in mid-winter it ceases 

 to fascinate us as before. iVnd lo ! when 

 February comes, its voice begins again to 

 get into form and emerge once more into 

 full-throated melody towards the close of 

 March. 



The Dhayal takes to house-keeping at this 

 period and for nearly four months it is busy 



