'280 
CATALOGUE. 
the Malay countries generally; but in the south of India it is 
somewhat rare."— (Blyth, J. A. S. Beng. XIV. p. 139.) 
" Is only found in the most retired and impervious parts of the 
thickest forest jungle. It is solitary ; perches on low branches, and 
hops to the ground to secure a grasshopper, or other soft insect. 
When alarmed, it flies before you from tree to tree at a low height. 
Its song is heard in the greatest perfection towards evening, and is 
surpassed by no Indian bird, if indeed it is by the celebrated 
Nightingale."— (Jerd., Madr. Journ. X. p. 264.) 
"The Shama is reputed to be the finest of Oriental songsters; besides 
which, it has a considerable propensity to imitation, and one in my 
own possession learned to give the crow of a cock to perfection, also 
the notes of the Coel {Eudynamis orientalis), the chatter of a troop 
of Saat Bhyes {Malacocircus canorus)^ &c. Many thousands of these 
elegant birds are kept in cages in Calcutta, and the universally 
absurd practice is to darken their cages by wrapping them vdth 
several folds of cloth, enough to stifle the luckless captives in this 
climate, though it must be confessed they sing most vigorously 
while thus circumstanced, but certainly not more so than mine 
which were exposed to the light and air. It is a practice of the rich 
natives to employ servants to carry about their Shamas and other 
birds, and the number which are thus borne about the streets of 
Calcutta is astonishing ; the poor birds are shut out from all light 
and air, like Mahomedan ladies enjoying ( ! ) their evening drive, 
but they nevertheless (i. e. the birds) sing forth most lustily and 
melodiously."— (Blyth, Ann. Nat. Hist. XII. p. 98.) 
" In the mornings and evenings the notes are heard through the 
valleys, ceasing with twilight. The strains sweep with a gush of 
sweetness through the enchanting solitudes which this bird makes 
its favourite resort, at times when other birds are silent in rest ; 
and in unison with the surrounding scenery, in which nature seems 
to have lavished every fantastic invention of beauty, the effect pro- 
duced on the mind and ear can alone be appreciated by those who 
have witnessed the magnificence of a tropical forest." — (TickeU, J. 
A. S. Beng. 11. p. 575.) 
Genus Myiomela, Hodgs. Gray, Gen. of Birds, I./?. 178 (1846). 
Mtiscistlyia, Hodgs., P. Z. 8. (1845), p. 27. 
426. MYIOMELA LEU CUR A, Hodgs. 
Muscisylvia leucura, Hodgs., P. Z. S. (1845), p. 27 ; 
Cat. B. ofNep. p. 69. 
