340 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



I heard a distinctly audible sound, such as that 

 mentioned above, issuing from his throat. In 

 a second they mated. N^^xt day I found an 

 egg in their nest. The hen laid three eggs 

 oonsecutively and sat very close. During this 

 period I noticed a change in the conduct of 

 these extremely shy birds. They became quite 

 bold and fearless. If I climbed up to inspect 

 the nest, the female bird would not stir till I was 

 actually upon it. On its leaving the nest, the 

 cock would fly up and sit in front of my nose 

 and make a noise. Though not actually aggressive 

 towards other birds they jealously guarded their 

 nest at this time from intrusion. For over a 

 fortnight the hen sat on the eggs but un- 

 fortunately these proved to be clear. 



As in the case of the Shama, the female 

 Ouzel alone built the nest and took part in 

 incubation. The cock, though not obsequiously 

 attentive, kept watch over the nursery and, 

 whenever the hen was away, he went up close 

 to the nest and sometimes perched on its edge. 

 But I never found him brooding on the eggs. 



