30 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



year to the same spot as soon as the nesting 

 season arrives, and build its nest in exactly 

 the same place. Five is the usual comple- 

 ment of eo-o's, which are oval, neither broad 

 nor very narrow, somewhat elongated, with 

 a moderately glossy surface. The ground 

 colour is sometimes greenish or greenish 

 white, and sometimes greenish-blue with 

 rusty blotches. 



In the cage, the Dhayal is no less attract- 

 ive than the Shama. It becomes tame and 

 docile, and appears A'ery happy, seeming to 

 realise that ''iron lavs do not a prison make'\ 

 and sings away its time as sweetly 

 Cage-life as when at liberty. Young, hand- 

 reared birds grow up very hardy 

 and make very nice pets, but adult birds seem 

 to feel their loss of liberty very keenly just 

 after capture. The provision of a bath in 

 the cage delights it immensely, for it enjoys 

 a dip in water as much as the Shama. Its 

 treatment in captivity is almost similar to 

 that of the latter. The food prepared for 

 the one is well suited to the other. Only a 



