THE DAMA 177 



incubation, the male collects and gives every 

 insect to the hen. It takes no part iu 

 incubation which lasts for twelve days. 



The female lays three or four eggs which 

 are broad ovals, much pointed towards one 

 end, and have a very fine glossy surface. 

 The ground-colour is greenish white, or 

 dull greyish. Specks and minute streaks 

 of red-brown extend more or less all over 

 the surface. 



As already said, this bird meets with 

 greater consideration in Northern India. 

 In Bengal, it is not absolutely 

 Cage-life unknown in the cage. Quite a 

 respectable number of birds is 

 placed on the market in Calcutta — being 

 generally imported from U. P. The birds 

 in my aviary, however, were caught in the 

 neighbourhood of Calcutta. In the United 

 provinces of Agra and Oudh, it is carried 

 about in a small covered cage — a practice 

 already noticed in connection with the 

 Shama. In that province the birds are 

 generally reared up from nestlings by 



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