206 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



is a high-priced bird as very few are 

 available for purchase. 



This sable bird has no mournful associa- 

 tions about it. Its black colour, relieved 

 by grey on the wings, possesses gloss en- 

 ough to make it handsome and give its 

 attire a dainty finish. Its vocal attainments, 

 if not superbly enchanting, are yet of a 

 high order. Possessing -a sweet and power- 

 ful voice, it is always trying its vocal strength 

 against the music of the rills, brooks and 

 cascades. In fact, there is a very close 

 connexion between its song and the melody 

 of running water, which seems to give the 

 bird an impetus to sing. 



The Kasturi is a resident bird of the 

 Himalayas, its range varying according to 



season up to the snowline. It 

 tion" "' occurs wherever the Whistling 



Thrush is to be met with. Its 

 ranofe also extends throug^h the Bhutan 

 Doarsinto Assam and Manipur. In Southern 

 India it is represented by Menda simillima, 

 which is a bird of the Nilsjliiri Hills and 



