THE BHIMRAJ 



(BISSEMURUS PARADISEUS) 



It is stranore that some of the forest 

 birds, properly so-called, living far away 

 from the haunts of man, are our dearest 

 and most loving pets. The Shama is one 

 of this class, the Bhimraj or the Racket- 

 tailed Drongo is another. The perfect 

 sang:froid with which both these birds 

 accept the fellowship of man is remarkable. 

 Both seem to regard the love and confidence 

 of their keeper as sufficient compensation for 

 their loss of liberty, and both become most 

 intimate with their master. To win the 

 confidence of naturally shy birds, no 

 little tact is required. Great credit is 

 therefore due to the Indian bird-fancier 

 who accomplishes this feat. He is un- 

 acquainted with the modern process 

 of bird-keeping, yet he seldom fails 

 in his attempts to bring up the most 

 delicate birds, the rearing of which baff- 



