178 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



means of hand-feeding ; wild adult birds are 

 seldom caught and caged. The steadying of 

 adult Damas is not a difficult affair. My 

 specimens were all adults, and none of 

 them is languishing. They do not seem 

 to feel their loss of liberty as keenly as 

 some birds. If insects be mixed in the 

 satoo given to them, they will take to it 

 in a short time. Fruits would be beneficial. 

 They are inordinately fond of ripe bananas 

 and eat guavas with relish. As soon as 

 the bird takes to artificial food, it should 

 be introduced into an aviary for, as it is 

 naturally morose and quiet, in a small cage 

 it becomes susceptible to indigestion for 

 want of exercise. And as it is not a very 

 diminutive bird, it will be a cruelty to 

 confine it in a small cage. It can safely 

 be lodged in a mixed aviary with the 

 tiniest of birds, because it is inoftensive 

 and never meddles in the affairs of others. 

 The pleasing colour of the Dama adds to 

 the beauty of its aviary. Foreign avicul- 

 turists testify to its genial bursts of song in 



