62 THE BIRDS OF CALCUTTA. 



attached, and are hardly ever close together, even 

 though they may inhabit the same garden in peace. 

 They need never leave it, for they are not particular 

 about nesting accommodation, building in any hole 

 in tree or wall. The eggs vary much in size and colour, 

 but generally speaking resemble more or less those 

 of the BngUsh blackbird on a small scale. And in 

 ■connection with this, it is interesting to note the 

 resemblance in proportions, gait, and gestures between 

 these birds ; the two species show admirably that 

 the names "Thrush" and "Robin," like "Duck" 

 and " Teal," are largely only measures of size. If 

 i;he Dhyal were as big as the blackbird, everyone 

 would call it a thrush, but, as it is a good deal smaller 

 it gets the other name. Young Dhyals show their 

 relationship to the thrushes by being marked with 

 buff on the breast and wings, though generally 

 speaking their plumage resembles that of their mother. 

 They seem to be not difficult to rear and make nice 

 pets. The old Dhyal is said to be very hard to tame, 

 in spite of its confiding habits in a wild state ; but 

 my friend Mr. F. Groser has not only tamed a wild- 

 caught old bird, but bred from him in confinement. 

 Of course the great point is to supply abundance of 

 insect food, and this is not difficult in Calcutta, where 

 shamas are so much kept that men make a trade of 

 breeding maggots and catching grass-hoppers for 



