20 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 
markably intelligent. Ina cage itis decidedly nervous, 
but in an aviary becomes very much at home, and shows 
great inquisitiveness. Many specimens become so tame 
that they will take food from the fingers when led to 
the aviary wires. The cock has a very sweet song, very 
strong for the size of the bird, and altogether it is the 
most generally attractive small bird I know of—every- 
one seems to admire it. It is easy to keep for it will eat 
seed and fruit as well as insects, and therefore, like most 
omnivorous birds, does well on artificial food. Specimens 
may be had in Calcutta during the winter months at 
about two rupees each. In England, it fetches about 
the same price, and is called the Pekin Robin, or even 
the ‘‘ Japanese Nightingale.’’ Although so easy to 
keep, it does not breed readily in captivity. In a wild 
state, it builds an open nest in a bush, and lays pale- 
green eggs with red, brown and purple spots. This 
would be a most suitable species for acclimatization 
in all warm temperate climates. 
Tue BiLuE-wiInceD Siva (Siva cyanuroptera) is a bird 
of very similar size, but more elegant form, its tail, 
which is not forked, being longer. The Siva is of a 
fawn-brown above, and nearly white below, with beauti- 
ful blue wings and tail ; the bill is yellowish, and the eyes 
brown. It hasmuch the same range in our hills as the 
Liothrix, but is not found out of India. In captivity 
it is comparatively scarce, and is not quite so easy to 
keep, not caring about seed. However, it is not 
by any means a delicate bird. Very few, however, 
have as yet reached England alive, and it is well worth 
