I90 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



breed in confinement; their natural diet consists for the 

 most part of insects, but in the house the}' will partake 

 of and thrive on a mixture of German paste, hard-boiled 

 ego^, crushed biscuit, and dried ants' eggs ; if a few fresh 

 insects can be added now and then, so much the better. 

 They nest in holes of trees, or buildings, like most of the 

 starling tribe. 



KosR-CoLoURED Pastor. — This bird Morris includes 

 amonsr "British Birds" on the strength of an in- 

 dividual or two shot in England. The bill and long 

 erectile crest are jet black ; the throat, upper part of the 

 breast, and the wings and tail are bluish and brownish 

 black, and the rest of the plumage is a pale rose colour. 

 The size is about tliat of the English starling, nameh', 

 8?y inches, 21 or 3 of which belong to the tail. 



It devours vast quantities of insects of the grasshopper 

 and locust tribes, and must be of immense value from an 

 agricultural point of view. It is found throughout India, 

 and derives its name of pastor from its habit of accom- 

 panying cattle in the field to feed on tlie insects disturbed 

 by their feet. 



Blyth's, or Wihte-Headed Pastor. — The head, long 

 crest, neck and breast are silvery white, and the back and 

 scapulars grey ; the belly and tail coverts rufous, and the 

 outer webs of the primaries and tertiaries, as well as the 

 coverts, grey ; the bill is blue at the base, green in the 

 centre, and yellow at the tip ; the eyes are greyish white, 

 and the total length of the bird SI inches, 3 of which 

 belong to the tail. 



It is found in Malabar in small companies among the 

 dense forests of that region, where it feeds on fruit, rarely 

 descending to the ground, but passing its life among the 

 branches of the trees, in the hollow boughs of which it 

 makes its nest. 



