THE DAMA 175 



puritanic silence. It is quite probable that 

 as a great deal of the sweetest song is 

 uttered in a low tone from a cover, it can not 

 be heard from a distance. The louder notes 

 are unmusical, uttered from higher perches, 

 and are probably notes of defiance. 



A near cousin of the Dama, Geocichla 

 cyatio/iot us—the White-throated Ground- 

 Thrush — is a happier bird not obsessed by 

 any morbid and disturbed outlook of life. 

 This bird sings nine months out of twelve 

 and its vocal performance is not indifferent. 

 About its song Reginald Phillips says, 

 ''Standing tight and upright, wing-butts 

 hunched, primaries pointing straight down- 

 wards with the points touching the toes, head 

 drawn up but with the bill close against 

 the chest and pointing straight down," it 

 pours out its merry warble. It is like G, 

 citriria in all other respects ; even the 

 coloration is the same, except that it has 

 a splash of pure white on the throat, whence 

 its name. 



The Dama beo-ins to mate as soon as it 



