THE HUSAINI PIDDAH 71 



aviary, for, in that case it goes on hunger- 

 strike till it dies of sheer exhaustion. 

 It should be lodged in a rectangular cage 

 of split bamboos with compartments in it. 

 A tame bird, preferably a wag-tail, should 

 be introduced in each of the compartments 

 on its immediate right and left, so that 

 the free and easy manners of the tame 

 birds will make the new bird shake off its 

 fright due to new surroundings. The 

 feeding cups of the new captive should be 

 placed adjacent to those of its neighbours ; 

 so that, when it will see the other birds 

 taking food of their own accord, it will 

 gradually follow suit. It should be fed 

 forcibly by hand at first, for it refuses 

 absolutely to take any food except insects 

 for the first few days. 



The whole of the upper body in the 



male is brown ; the tail is chestnut on the 

 basal half ; the chin and throat 



Coloration are bright sky-blue with a 

 chestnut patch in the middle. 



Bordering this blue is a narrow black band. 



