144 



VEKTEBRATA. 



food consists of worms and insects, fruit and berries. Tn confinement this bird becomes exceedingly 

 tamo, and if broiiu'lit up from the nest, is the most sensible and attached of all the small birds. 



THE BLACK REDSTART. 



The Black Redstart, P. tithys, is five and three-quarter inches long, and resembles the preceding. 



The Blue-throated Warbler, P. ASweaca, migrates to Europe from the south in the breeding 

 season. 



Genus KITTACINCLA : Kittacincla, includes the Indian Nightingale, K. macronra — called 

 Shama by the Bengalese. This bird inhabits the recesses of the forests, and is thought to equal 

 the European nightingale in musical gifts. It sings during the night, when other birds are silent; 

 many thousands of them are kept in cages by the natives of Calcutta, and in order to make them 

 sing they are covered over with folds of cloth. In this condition the Mahometan ladies carry 

 them about in their drives, the birds all the time filling the air with their delicious melodies. 



The Dayal, Copsychus saularis — called Magpie-Rohin by the English residents in Ceylon — 

 seems to take the place of the English robin in their affections, though it is rather noted for its 

 pugnacious disposition. Another species, the Indian Robin, Thamnohia fuUcata, is a great favor- 

 ite both with the natives and the colonists. 



THE BLUEBIRD. 



Genus SIALIA : Sialia. — This includes the American Bluebird, S>. sialis which 's, six and 

 three-quarter inches long; the wings full and broad; the whole upper parts of a sky blue; the 

 breast chestnut ; the belly white. It is a summer bird in the United States, coming with the 



