80 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 



are together that it is easy to understand the statement 

 that has been made to the effect that the cocks have 

 no song. They do sing, however, but the music they 

 turn out is so excruciating that it is not appreciated as 

 such. 



The hen weavers only lay two or three eggs, while in 

 colour. The young are easily reared on safoo-paste, and, 

 when full-fledged, will eat the ordinary bird-seeds. Thus 

 treated, they become delightfully tame, will follow one 

 about, and perch on one's head. I once lost two young 

 birds of the Eastern species which I was rearing, 

 they having flown out of the window. They were away 

 all that night and all next day and night. But on the 

 morning following, I was in the street just outside of the 

 compound and saw them flying overhead. I called to 

 them, and they came down close and allowed me to catch 

 them with very little trouble. Birds like this can easily 

 be tamed to live free about a garden, though some will 

 inevitably be lost in the training, as all are not equally 

 clever. 



Native bird-trainers perform wonderful feats with 

 trained Bayas, teaching them to fire a cannon, fetch and 

 carry, and so forth. The Eastern Baya, which is the only 

 species living near Calcutta, is only of use for training or 

 keeping as a pet. It is too dull for an aviary bird, though 

 the handsome yellow-breasted Western Baya is very 

 suitable for this purpose. This species is the only one 

 found in the Bombay market, and a good many specimens 

 are brought down to Calcutta from Lucknow, but usually 

 only cocks. 



