THE SHAMA 
Ridley, drawing hss conclusions from the somewliat uncertain 
appearance of the species in the gardens, thought that it was 
migratory and indeed it does appear, like many other local 
species, to be subject to movements of a kind; but a certain 
number of sham as are certainly resident cn the island and 
some breed on Bukit Tim ah. 
Fieid Notes: — This bird is one of the most beautiful of 
our local songfsters. Its voice resembles in a very lar^^e degree 
that of the magpie- robin but is even more varied, richer and 
louder. Seeu at a distance it rather resembles its commoner 
relative, but at close quarters the chestnut underparts and 
longer tail are distinctive. 
Oiher habits: — Mr. Stuart Baker writes: "The Malayan 
Shama breeds in March, April and May, placing its ne&t in 
holes in trees or in bamboo clumps. It is always very roughly 
built of twigs, leaves and grass, lined with grass and fits into 
the hollow in which it is built. The eggs number three or four, 
and are very like those of the Dayal [i.e. the magpie-robin] 
but usually much more densely spotted and therefore more 
brown in general tint". 
The shama is an insectivorous bird. Ridley states that if 
one whistles the first few bars of its song, the bird may be 
drawn to the edge of the wood, coming quite close to the 
observer and pouring forth its melodious song. 
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