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about in small flocks, and feeding chiefly upon insects and

fruits. Its home isin the Himalayas at an altitude of from 3,000

to 6,000 feet: the temperature at the latter height being very

much like that of England. It displays the same desire for

tickling and being tickled which all Babblers do. Its food,

whether a piece of lettuce leaf or a struggling grasshopper, is

firmly held under one foot and torn to pieces with its beak.

Having isolated one bird in a small cage for the purpose of

observing whether “quids” of indigestible food were cast out

through the beak—as is the case with Shrikes, Flycatchers, etc.—

I was unable to discover any evidence to that effect ; even

though the diet consisted largely of material so favourable for

quid-production as dried flies.


A year or two ago, I possessed two Blue-winged Sivas of

doubtful sex which were in the same cage as a single male

Silver-eared Mesia—a bird resembling the Siva very much in

general habits. One of the Sivas struck up a friendship with the

Mesia, and was continually in its company, tickling being, of

course, mutually indulged in. Strange to say, as the affection

between the Mesia and Siva increased, the latter began to

quarrel with the other Siva, and before very long it was never

allowed to come near the Mesia, such was the jealousy which

sprang up in the tiny breast of the Siva !


Sivas generally become much attached to others of their

own species. On one occasion, two escaped from an aviary in

which about half-a-dozen more were confined ; but those which

had regained their liberty refused to take advantage of it. They

continued to haunt the trees in the vicinity of their confined

companions ; and one of them I was able to recapture, by means

of a dextei'ous drenching with a tumbler or two of water. At

the present time I have Sivas, Mesias, Yellow-eyed Babblers,

Sibias, and Common Babblers all in one apartment. These birds

are almost exactly alike in general habits, and are on the best of

terms with each other. A glance at them after roosting time is

sufficient to verify this, owing to the snug way in which they

are packed side by side upon the perches. So closely do they

sit, that their tails almost invariably cross those of their

neighbours.


There exist few more active birds than the Siva. Given

space, he will dart like an arrow from perch to perch, scarcely

touching them with his feet, reminding one of a deer which

appears to scorn the ground in its succession of bounds. In

confinement, the Siva thrives upon any good ordinary diet for



