TUFTED DUCK 



CHAPTER VI 



THE INDIAN SHAMA AND THE DHYAL BIRD 



" It is good to read of that kindness and humbleness 

 of S. Francis of Assisi, who never spoke to bird or cicala, 

 nor even to wolf and beast of prey, but as his brother." 



TWENTY years ago or more a shama, one of 

 the very best all-round cage birds, cost a good 

 deal more than he does now, and males only 

 were imported. £2, 10s. to £4 will purchase one 

 now. For £6, 6s., or thereabouts, a nice pair can 

 occasionally be picked up. 



Looking at the sketch — I do not pretend to be 

 a Keulemans, a Lodge, or a Thorburn ! — any one who 

 does not know a shama will probably be able to 

 understand what it is like, and perhaps even to picture 

 the colouring, for it is bold and simply distributed. 

 The whole head, upper breast, back, wing-coverts, 



and the two long central tail feathers are blue-black, 



90 



