OTHER PIDDAHS AND THEIR KINDRED 



The word "Piddah'' seems to be a generic 

 term Tfith the Indians. The bird we have 

 just descrilied — Pratlncola caprata — is the 

 real Piddah, Kalapiddah being its more 

 specific name. There are a few other Chats 

 and Robins which are also loosely called 

 Piddahs and are therefore likely to be con- 

 founded with the real Piddah. Some 

 writers have indentified the Piddah with 

 the genus Thamnohia which includes the 

 Indian Pohins. The mistake is perhaps due 

 to their almost identical habits. All these 

 so-called Piddahs are almost alike in their 

 dapper outlines and perky attitudes. They 

 are sexually dimorphic and essentially in- 

 sect-feeders, spending most of their time 

 on or near the ground. The flick of the tail 

 and a little sweetness of voice are also their 

 common traits. Wo notice below a few of 

 the Piddahs of this latter class. 



