270 The Indian Magpie Bohin or Bhayal Bird. 
PODICIPID^*:. 
Lophaellnjia crislaU,,. GTIKAT CRKSTFA) (iREBE. 
T{n)i(/e.. Kuro|i('; Asia; Africa; Australia; XfW Zealaiiid 
(H.L). 
T lueliovc 1 once saw a Great Ci-(>.st«l rrrche on llic river 
liiit T oamiot fpcl sure about it. 
Podirojes oa.peiisis-. AFEICAX LITTLE GREBE. 
Raiif/e. Ti'opiral Africa; Madagascar; South Asia. (H.L.) 
This, the African I)ah -chick, is found all over Africa and 
a^linost certjiinly occurs in the Gambia, tlnu-;!) 7 tiersonally have never 
seen it. 
(To be. Contmued). 
The Indian Magpie Robin or Dhayal Bird. 
(Copai/ehiis saiihirls) . 
By Rev. J. M. Pateuson. 
Our liardworking and friendly Editor sent me such an 
encouraging letter of thanks for my " yarn " about the Ame- 
thyst Honeysufker, with an urgent request for more, that I 
am venturing to have another try. 
I am just realising that the experiences found in 
('watching one Ivird are very much the same as those in watch- 
ing others, and that I am in danger of writing the same 
stoi'v over again with only a change of names, if I keep to 
the same S'tyle of narrative. However, I will do my liest to 
make thi- article interesting, without too much repetition. 
The Dhayal Bird is a great friend of mine, and I saw 
a good deal of him in my garden, of fruit trees, and made a 
close acquaintance with his habits, which I will detail as far 
as I can. He is about the size and shape of the Shama 
and is his near cousin, but somehow he looks a bit bigger 
Ivecause of liis more contrasty colouring, which in the male 
bird is l)lack and white, pure and simple. 
In the early morning he is seen at his best (just as 
most birds aie all over the world), and can be approached 
quite easily and watched without difficulty. During the cold 
weather and early spring, before his nesting season begins, he 
sings a loud, clear song of a short refrain, which is very 
j)Ieasing to hear, but nothing like the low soft song of the 
Shama, which has more vai'iety and is more continuous. 
When we used to have our early morning tea in the 
