70 PKT BIRD^^ OF BENGAL 



mislead one to imagine that the whole bird- 

 world is engaged in a musical concert. Its 

 vocal performance reaches the acme of 

 ])erfection durino- the matino- season. It then 

 indulges in a *' song -flight", pouring forth its 

 piercing music not only while it flies upwards 

 Avith its wings and tail outspread, but sings 

 also while descending. Unhappily for India, 

 the bird hies for its Northern resort before 

 its nuptial display begins. The glints of 

 the many colours which adorn its breast and 

 l)ody can only be seen at their best during 

 this ^song-flight' ; they are meaningless 

 when in India the bird cowers, in its fear of 

 man, in a thick cover. 



This bird is caged very seldom. It has 

 a sweet voice, and in company with wag- 

 tails, it can, I think, add to the beauty of 

 aviaries. It is certainly difllcult to reconcile 

 the Husaini Piddah to cage-life. On several 



occasions, I tried to accustom 

 €age-life it to captivity and I was not 



unsuccessful. When first caught, 

 it should never be introduced into an 



