THE THRUSHES. 65 



migration. It breeds from April to July, making a big 

 nest of grass, etc., in a bush, and laying three or four 

 greenish-white eggs with reddish spots. It is sometimes 

 caged, and is a splendid singer ; and it certainly does well 

 in confinement. 



Before leaving the larger Thrushes, it may be mentioned 

 for the benefit of the many admirers of that bird, that the 

 European Song-Thrush (Turdus musicus) will live well 

 for years in India, and give its characteristic song at 

 the proper season. Almost all, however, become subject 

 to an excessive overgrowth of the scales of the feet, as do 

 some of the Indian Thrushes. This bird may be safely 

 kept with small Finches, but it would not be wise to trust 

 all Thrushes in such company. 



THE DHAYAL (Copsychus saularis) is figured on Plate 1 

 (Fig. 4), and the plumage of the male thus needs no 

 description, being simply black-and-white, whence he is 

 sometimes called the Magpie-Robin. The female is 

 similarly marked, but dark grey instead of black, and the 

 young resemble her, with buff mottling on the breast 

 and wings. The Dhayal is one of the most beautifully 

 proportioned of all small birds, and very graceful in its 

 movements either on the wing, on the ground, or in trees. 

 It is a common garden-bird, almost all over the Empire, 

 but does not range very high up the hills. In Burma 

 and the Andamans it is tamer than in India, and will 

 even come into verandahs. I have never seen it so 

 numerous anywhere as on Ross Island in the Andamans, 

 where every morning the air was full of the sweet song 

 of these birds. About Colombo it is also common. Every 

 F, GAB 5 



