and the Dhyal Bird 97 



As his English name implies, he is uncommonly 

 like a magpie in colouring, indeed the black and white 

 of his plumage is distributed in almost exactly similar 

 markings. 



Black and white it is, lacking the beautiful 

 iridescent purples and greens of our British magpie's 

 wings and tail. 



In size he is a little larger than a shama ; but his 

 tail, although longish, is not nearly so long as the 

 former bird's. 



Nearly every dhyal that I have come across has 

 possessed the same pugnacious disposition, pecking at 

 one's fingers, puffing out his feathers, and defiantly 

 warbling. But his warbling is not nearly so melodious 

 or so varied as the shama's. 



There are much harsher notes at moments, and his 

 alarm note or call, expressive of anger, is also somewhat 

 crude. 



But he is a really taking little fellow, with his dis- 

 tinctive plumage, his perky ways, and his cheery song. 



One is not sure that the hen bird isn't prettier, for 

 where he is black and white, she is softest mole-skin 

 colour and silvery grey. 



Smaller a little than her mate, and shorter in the 

 tail. 



Between the hen shama and dhyal bird there is a 

 strong family resemblance. 



A lady, on seeing my male dhyal bird, at once said, 

 " Oh ! you have a magpie robin, quite an old friend to 

 me ; I remember them in our garden in Penang, when 



I was a child." 



G 



