'l'HK



Hvicultural /Hbagasme,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.



VOL. VII. — No. 8. All rights reserved.



JUNE, 1901.



THE SHAMA.


By E. W. Harper, M.B.O.U., F.Z.S.


The Shama is found generally throughout the greater

part of India, from the base of the Himalayas to Ceylon; it

also extends to Burmah. Its home is in the dense jungles, away

from the haunts of men. The Dayal, on the other hand, which

is first cousin to the Shama, even at times courts human society;

a pair of these birds has taken up its abode in a garden in the

centre of Calcutta, and I have seen the cock bird approach to

within six yards of the house. The Shama lays four eggs in a

nest composed of dry grass and leaves, generally in a bank or

hole of a tree near the ground. Although shy and retiring in

its habits, it has the pluck of a game Bantam cock. A hen

Shama, which is now in my possession, quickly asserted her

authority over a cock White-capped Redstart and a cock Niltava

Flycatcher, which were in the same aviary. Even larger birds,

such as Orioles, have to keep their distance, owing to the

pugilistic attitude of the lady Shama, when a dainty morsel of

food is offered ; for she opens her long tail like a fan and spreads

her wings forward and downward in a most threatening

manner.


Shamas are caught wild and also reared by hand in fairly

large numbers, but I never heard of their having been bred in

captivity in India; although Mr. Pliillipps has done so in

England. This is chiefly owing to the fact that there are so few

aviculturists in India. Amongst Europeans, I doubt if there

are a dozen enthusiastic aviculturists in the whole peninsula.

Natives would not take the necessary trouble ; especially when

young birds can be purchased for three shillings or four shillings

each in the towns, and probably much less up-country. The

hen Shama is rarely seen in captivity ; but her lord and master

is one of the most favourite cage-birds amongst the natives. He



