204 PET BIRDS OF BENGA.L 



possessed, for it combines great beauty, 

 audacious tameness and a char minor sons:. 



"I feed these two on Abraham's egg- 

 bread, ants' cocoons and silkworm cocoons 

 ( chrysaHdes or pupse ). In Italy the last 

 is sold pounded up and dry, and is given 

 with a mixture of*^^ orrounded maize. The 

 birds are very fond of fruits. They are 

 birds that love their baths very much and 

 fine splashing they make in a fair-sized 

 pie-dish." 



The Kastura retains a constant plumage 

 throughout the year. The sexes, being 



alike, are not distinguishable. The 

 Coloration whole plumage is rich deep-blue, 



each feather being tipped with 

 glistening blue. The lesser wing-coverts are 

 black, while the median ones are tipped 

 with white. Lores and base of forehead 

 are black ; forehead higher up bright cobalt- 

 blue. The wings and tail, which in the 

 shade appear to be almost black, flash out 

 into superb and brilliant deep blue in the 

 sun-light. The general appearance is black 



