140 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



ground. The Indian bird is — -as tlio 



evidence goes — -a less aspiring bird. 



Both its song and its flight testify to 

 its exuberance of spirit. Watching it 

 "soaring" upwards, one cannot fail to notice 

 that its wings are never still ; they seem 

 to be beating time to its music, which is 

 all the while being poured forth. In true 

 soaring, as in accipitrine birds, the wings 

 are scarcely ever moved. Day in and day 

 out, and all through the year, it is the 

 same lusty singer. The song never seems 

 to wane, though it attains its maximum 

 power during the mating season. I do 

 not know if it sings when it is angry as 

 the Shama does, but it seems to sing under 

 excitement, even under the influence of fear. 



The Bharat frequents the same locali- 

 ties as its European congener — -pasture- 

 lands, stubble-fields and bare commons. 

 It is found in well- cultivated districts 

 oifering arable land and meadows, but it 

 avoids towns, groves, and gardens. It pre- 

 fers, as a favourite resort, the grassy sides of 



