THE BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER. 219 



upper part of the breast are brilliant blue, excepting a spot in the centre, which is white in 

 young birds, but warms into red as they increase in age. A well marked black bar runs 

 below the blue, followed by a narrow streak of white, and a rather broad band of the same 

 ruddy chestnut as that of the tail. The abdomen is grayish-white. The total length of the 

 bird is about six inches. 



THE birds that belong to the genus Copsychus are spread over several portions of India 

 and Africa, where they are rather plentiful in certain favored localities. 



The DAYAL is an inhabitant of India and Ceylon, and in its wild state is a solitary bird, 

 haunting the lower trees and jungle, and often paying visits to gardens and cultivated grounds. 

 It is rather shy, and prefers the thickest foliage for its perch, never caring to rise to any great 

 elevation if observed, but merely flying from tree to tree at a short distance from the ground. 

 Its food consists of insects, which it generally takes upon the ground, jerking its tail upwards 

 in a satisfied kind of manner, and then returning to its post among the bushes. As it regains 

 its perch, it has a curious habit of depressing its tail, as if to counteract the effect of its former 

 elevation. The song of the Dayal is remarkably good, and it possesses the power of mimicking 

 other birds. 



As it is readily tamed, it is often caught and caged, and when domesticated is employed 

 in various roles, the most common being that of a combatant. It is a most brave and com- 

 bative little bird, and will fight to the death with as much courage as any gamecock. Even 

 in its wild state it is constantly engaged in fighting, the male birds challenging each other just 

 as is the case with the domestic fowl, and joining in combat as soon as they can come*to close 

 quarters. The native bird-catchers take advantage of this propensity, and employ a tame male 

 for the purpose of decoying the wild birds into captivity ; the whole process being singularly 

 like that which is adopted for the capture of elephants in the same country. 



The tame bird, on hearing the accustomed signal from his master, pours forth a defiant 

 challenge, whicli is immediately answered by the nearest male. The decoy bird is then let 

 loose, and the two immediately engage in fight, so fierce that both the combatants are seized by 

 the bird-catcher. It is a very remarkable fact that the tame bird seems to take a pride in 

 aiding its master, and will hold its struggling antagonist by beak and claws in order to 

 prevent it from making its escape. In Ceylon this bird goes by the name of the Magpie 

 Robin. 



THE Warblers embraced under the family Sylmcolidce are very numerous ; sixty species 

 are recognized. 



THE PINE CREEPING WARBLER (Dendroeca pinus) is one of the most familiar species. It 

 is a very early visitor ; often arriving north before the chilling winds have ceased. They fre- 

 quent the pine groves, hence their name. 



THE BLACK POLL WARBLER (Dendrasca striatd) is another common bird. It has earned 

 the title "harbinger of summer" on account of its late arrival in New England. It ranges 

 from the Arctic regions to the West Indies. 



BLACK-AND-YELLOW WARBLER (Dendroeca maculosa). This is common in the Eastern 

 States, and as far west as the Missouri Eiver. 



THE BLACKBURNIAN is the most beautiful in plumage ; its rich golden-spotted decora- 

 tions are quite distinctive. It breeds in Maine. 



THE CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER is exceedingly pretty in its plumage. It is especially 

 limited to New England and the Atlantic States, breeding in Massachusetts and northward. 



THE BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (Dendrceca mrens) is one of the many pretty 



