20 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 



most generally attractive small bird I know of every- 

 one seems to admire it. It is easy to keep for it will eat 

 seed and fruit as well as insects, and therefore, like most 

 omnivorous birds, does well on artificial food. Specimens 

 may be had in Calcutta during the winter months at 

 about two rupees each. In England, it fetches about 

 the same price, and is called the Pekin Robin or even 

 the " Japanese Nightingale." Although so easy to keep, 

 it does not breed readily in captivity. In a wild state, 

 it builds an open nest in a bush, and lays pale-green eggs 

 with red, brown and purple spots. This would be a most 

 suitable species for acclimatization in all warm temperate 

 climates. 



THE BLUE-WINGED SIVA (Siva cyanuroptera) is a bird 

 of very similar size, but more elegant form, its tail, which 

 is not forked, being longer. The Siva is of a fawn-brown 

 above, and nearly white below, with beautiful blue wings 

 and tail ; the bill is yellowish, and the eyes brown. It 

 has much the same range in our hills as the Liothrix, 

 but is not found out of 'India. In captivity it is com- 

 paratively scarce, and is not quite so easy to keep, not 

 caring about seed. However, it is not by any means a 

 delicate bird. Very few, however, have as yet reached 

 England alive, and it is well worth taking home. In its 

 nesting habits it much resembles the Liothrix. 



There are many charming small Babblers in the hills 

 but in the plains few are found. Two, however, need 

 notice here. 



THE IORA (Aegiihina tiphia), called Shoubiga, Tofik 

 or Fatikjal by the natives, is a common bird all over the 



