Warblers. 85 



we went into the garden, in expectation of crumbs and 

 other dainties. I strongly advise all who love Robins 

 to provide them with a supply of food, and a cocoa- 

 nut husk or covered basket in a warm nook, during the 

 winter, when they suffer from cold, and to allow them 

 to come and go at pleasure, and never to keep them 

 imprisoned during the bright days of spring and sum- 

 mer. They will reward their benefactors with steadfast 

 attachment, and thus remain their joyous friends, in- 

 stead of their reluctant captives. 



Many of the birds belonging to the genus Copsychus, 

 inhabiting Asia and Africa, are very like the Red- 

 breast in their habits and attractive qualities. One 

 found in India, the Kittacinela macroura, called by the 

 Bengalese shamd, is a splendid songster. It inhabits 

 the recesses of forests, and sings during the night, 

 from which it has acquired the name of the Indian 

 Nightingale. Numbers of these birds are kept in cages 

 in Calcutta, and it is the custom to wrap them round 

 with folds of cloth, so as to keep both light and air 

 from them, notwithstanding which they sing very 

 sweetly ; the natives carry them about thus in the 

 streets. Another Indian species, the DAYAL (Copsychus 

 saularis), sings very well, and imitates the songs of 

 other birds. It is called at Ceylon the Magpie Robin, 

 and is often kept in cages by the residents, being very 

 easily tamed. It is as combative as our Robin, and 

 the male birds are continually challenging each other: 



