BLUE-THROATED WARBLKR. Cuanicula 



chin, throat, and upper part of the breast are brilliant blue, excepting a spot in the centre, 

 which is white in young birds, but warms into red as they increase in age. A well- 

 marked black bar runs below the blue, followed by a narrow streak of white, and a rather 

 broad band of the same ruddy chestnut as that of the tail. The abdomen is greyish-white. 

 The total length of the bird is about six inches. 



THE birds that belong to the genus Copsychus are spread over several portions of 

 India and Africa, where they are rather plentiful in certain favoured localities. 



The DAYAL is an inhabitant of India and Ceylon, and in its wild state is a solitary 

 bird, haunting the lower trees arid jungle, and often paying visits to gardens and cultivated 

 grounds. It is rather shy, and prefers the thickest foliage for its perch, never caring to 

 rise to any great elevation if observed, but merely flying from tree to tree at a short 

 distance from the ground. Its food consists of insects, which it generally takes upon 

 the ground, jerking its tail upwards in a satisfied kind of manner, and then returning to 

 its post among the bushes. As it regains its perch, it has a curious habit of depressing its 

 tail, as if to counteract the effect of its former elevation. The song of the Dayal is 

 remarkably good, and it possesses the power of mimicking other birds. 



As it is readily tamed, it is often caught and caged, and when domesticated is employed 

 in various roles, the most common being that of a combatant. It is a most brave and 

 combative little bird, and will fight to the death with as much courage as any gamecock. 

 Even in its wild state it is constantly engaged in fighting, the male birds challenging each 

 other just as is the case with the domestic fowl, and joining in combat as soon as they 

 can come to close quarters. The native bird-catchers take advantage of this propensity, 

 and employ a tame male for the purpose of decoying the wild birds into captivity ; the 

 whole process being singularly like that which is adopted for the capture of elephants in 

 the same country. 



The tame bird, on hearing the accustomed signal from his master, pours forth a defiant 

 challenge, which is immediately answered by the nearest male. The decoy bird is then 

 let loose, and the two immediately engage in fight, so fierce that both the combatants are 



