THE KALI SHAMA 57 



this country. The Indian name of the bird 

 — Kali Shama — is apparently a product of 

 association of ideas. Any one who sees it 

 will at once be reminded of the Shama, — so 

 close do the two birds come as regards their 

 movements and tail-play. It is the absence 

 of the chestnut colour from the breast of 

 the Indian Robin ( where it is replaced by 

 black ) which distinguishes it from the 

 Shama and bestows on it the distinctive 

 vernacular name. The chestnut, however, 

 is shifted down to its seat of trousers, 

 where it becomes visible whenever its tail is 

 thrown far up over its back. The darker 

 tone of the general body-colour of the Indian 

 Robin sup-o-ests a likeness to the Piddah 

 {Fratincola caprata) with which it is found 

 often in similar surroundings. The chief 

 point of its resemblance to the Piddah is in 

 its habit of nesting in holes and capturing 

 its quarry on the ground, but in this latter 

 habit, we notice some difference. Instead of 

 quietly waiting like the Piddah for the 

 approach of insects, the Robin hops and 



