64 THE BIRDS OF CALCUTTA. 



black and white tail and a bright chestnut stomach, 

 so that he shows three colours. He has a voice of 

 great power and much variety, of note, and is far 

 superior to any European singing bird, except the 

 nightingale. As he thrives so well in confinement, 

 he has long been popular in India, and a good many 

 are now even sent home annually. The shama is 

 not foimd wild near Calcutta, and would not come 

 into the town if he were, beiag, like the nightingale, 

 rather a woodland than a garden bird ; but being so 

 nearly related to our pied songster, and so familiar a 

 captive to boot, it is hardly possible to leave him out 

 of consideration. 



But a bird closely related to the true European 

 robin occurs in a wild state as well as the Dhyal and 

 thus deserves mention. This is the Red-breasted 

 Flycatcher {SvpTiia albicilla) a winter visitant. When 

 he comes to us his red breast is wanting or not much 

 in evidence, but except for this he is very like the 

 English favourite, except that he has longer wings 

 and shorter legs, shows some white on the tail, and 

 is smaller altogether. This soimds as if the resem- 

 blance were not very close, but the general attitude 

 and style of the bird make it so. As a matter of fact, 

 flycatchers and robins are very near relatives indeed ; 

 the red-breasted flycatcher being one of the links 

 between the two, and still retaining the habit of his 



