M. Sundcvall on the Birds of Calcutta, 305 



species, but I consider it certain that it is found there, as it 

 makes its migrations on the scale above-mentioned, and is found 

 in Ceylon, the Indian peninsula and Persia. 



Obs. Gracula religiosa, Linn. (Eulabes, Cuv.) var. minor, was 

 often seen in cages at Calcutta on sale for one or two rupees. It 

 was said to be captured in the country, but I could not get any 

 certain information that it is found wild in Bengal, and I soon 

 learned that the assertions of the natives in such cases are not to 

 be relied on. It is very possible that they come in the ships 

 from Java. The Indian name is Majna, which in the English 

 orthography is written mino or my ana, by which name it is called 

 in the oldest accounts of the species. Edwards writes it Minor, 

 and the French have thence made the name Mainate. In Java 

 the bird is called (according to Horsfield) Beo or Mencho. 



35. Sturnus contra, Linn. — Pastor, Wagl. 



Rostro elongato, recto, apice depresso. Niger, capitis lateribus, 

 ventre, vitta alarum uropygioque albis. Vitta per oculos maxima, 

 nuda flava *. 



Longit. 8 poll. Ala 120 mill., tarsus 33, cauda 73, rostrum e 

 fronte 25. Lingua bifido-lacera. Iris alba. Pedes flavi. Rostrum 

 basi luteum, apice album. Nucha paullo albido- seu griseo-varia. 



$ non difFert nisi colore paullo fusciore, juvenes et hiemales ventre 

 sordido. 



The Indian Starling is very common near Calcutta, where it 

 is called Kalickia. I am not informed whence the name contra, 

 which according to the older authors is its Indian name, is de- 

 rived. In the form of the body, the actions, voice, &c. it has 

 the nearest resemblance to our Starling. Like that bird, it is 

 first seen in spring in small flocks, which late in March are 

 broken up for pairing. It is chiefly found near houses, and lives 

 principally on insects. In March it is also seen diligently pluck- 

 ing the flowers of the cotton-tree (Bombax malabaricus). It is a 

 stationary species. 



36. Upupa epops, Linn., was twice seen (once on April 20, 

 near Serampore), but was not obtained. The flight, motions, and, 

 as far as I could see, the colour also were identical with those of 

 our northern Hoopoe. It is said not to be rare, according to the 

 Danish merchant Berg, in Serampore, who in this bird recognised 

 the Hoopoe of his own country, and said that he had heard its 

 voice the same as in Denmark. 



37. Corvus splendens, Vieill., Wagler. 



Obscure griseus, capite supra, collo antico, alis caudaque nigris, 

 violaceo-nitidis. Juguli plumis lanceolatis, virescenti- nitidis. 



* Pastor ialla, Ilorsf., Wagl., e Java, difFert colore superne rufescente- 

 nigro, et albedine capitis minore ; sed non nuditate capitis ut dicit Wagl. 

 (Syst. Av.). An dist. sp. ? 



Ann. § Mag. N. Hist. Vol xviii. Z 



