THE PIDDAH 45 



Dhayal and the Shama, the Piddah is pugna- 

 cious to a degree, fighting not only with its 

 own kind, but its distant relatives and some- 

 times other birds which are much bigger 

 than itself. Self-assertion, which is a cons- 

 picuous trait in its character, betrays it 

 into frequent quarrels with the Robins 

 (Thamnolias) and Red-starts {Huticillas). 

 So the housing of Piddahs in an aviary 

 requires a little attention, as it is not un- 

 attended with dangers. Broadly speaking 

 its treatment in captivity should be similar 

 to that of the Shama and the Dhayal, and 

 the diet which is appropriate for the two, 

 will suit the tiny Piddah admirably. 



Nothino^ is known about its breedinof 

 habits in captivity, and the people who have 

 a mind to try the experiment feel handi- 

 capped for want of female birds which are 

 not at all available for purchase in the 

 Indian markets. The reason lies in the fact 

 that the male Piddah is alone valued as 

 a song-bird and consequently caught and 

 caged while quite a nestling ; and as the male 



