l88 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



plumage is white, tinged with ashen red ; the under tail 

 coverts are white ; the bill is red at the base, and has a 

 yellow tip ; the lega are yellow, and the eyes brown, but 

 the orbits and the nude skin round them are yellow. In 

 length it measures 9 inches, 2f of which belong to the tail. 



The black of the adult is replaced by brown in the 

 young. 



In Bengal the pied mynah is known by the name of 

 ablaka. It is a familiar bird, associating with its fellows in 

 flocks, and when tame is extremely imitative. 



The nest is large, and made with sticks, grass, etc., on 

 trees at an elevation of 8 or feet from the ground. The 

 eggs are three or four in number, of a clear greenish 

 blue. 



Indian, or Bank Mynah. — The head, .short occipital 

 crest, lores, ear coverts, and nape are glossy black, 

 and the rest of the plumage dull cinereous black, fading 

 on the under surface to grey; there is a red spot about, 

 the centre of the wings, which are otherwise black. The 

 tail is black, tipped with rusty black ; the bill is red, 

 with a yellow tip, and the nude skin on the face has 

 a reddish tinge. The total length is 8^ inches, 3] of 

 which belong to the tail. 



It is found in Bengal, more especially in the Gangetic 

 district, where it burrows into the banks of rivers for the 

 purpose of nidification; the eggs are as many as seven 

 or eight, of a greenish blue colour. It feeds on fruit 

 and insects of all kinds. 



Common Mynah. — The head, which is ornamented 

 with an occipital crest, the neck and breast are deep glossy 

 black, and the remaining parts are snuflf brown, which 

 is deepest on the back and wing coverts. The primaries 

 are black, and have white spots at their base ; the black 

 tail is tipped with white, and the other under parts are 



