530 BULLETIN 186, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



nape, and back black, more or less glossed with green ; the rump pure 

 white; the wings black (the ends of the secondaries somewhat glossed 

 with bronze) , with a longitudinal bar formed by the pure white lesser 

 coverts and the white external edging of the median coverts; the 

 rectrices black; the remaining underparts white (with a faint vina- 

 ceous suffusion), mixed with dull black along the lower flanks. In a 

 short time the feathers of the front and forecrown lose much of the 

 white portion (with resultant increase in the amount of black visible), 

 the black parts become an unglossed brownish black, and the white 

 become very stained. The juvenile is similar but lacks white on the 

 front and crown and has the black replaced by dark brown. 



Specimens formerly believed by me to represent S. c. swperciliaris 

 are nothing but floweri in worn plumage. This race seems to have 

 originated on the plain of Central Thailand and to have entered the 

 northern provinces along the valleys of the larger rivers. 



STURNUS NIGRICOLLIS (Paykull) 



Black-collared Myna 



Qracula nigricollis Paykull, Kongl. [Svenska] Vet.-Akad. Nya Handl., vol. 28, 

 1807, pp. 291-293, pi. 9 (Canton, China). 



Graculipica nigricollis, Gyldenstolpe, Kungl. Svenska Vet.-Akad. Handl., 1913, 

 p. 35 (Pak Pan, Den Chai) ; 1916, p. 26 (Khun Tan) ; Journ. Nat. Hist. Soc. 

 Siam, 1915, p. 168 (listed) ; Ibis, 1920, p. 455 ("Throughout the whole coun- 

 try"). — de Schauensee, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1928, p. 558 

 (Chiang Mai) ; 1929, p. 559 (Chiang Mai). 



Gracupica nigricollis, Deignan, Journ. Siam Soc. Nat. Hist. Suppl., 1931, p. 151 

 (Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep) ; 1936, p. 123 (Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep).— de 

 Schauensee, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1934, p. 234 (Chiang Mai). 



The nok iang hua Ian or "bald-headed myna" is an abundant and 

 familiar species wherever, in the North, it finds cultivated lands and 

 human habitation. Although characteristically a bird of the plains, 

 I have occasionally found it in the dry, stunted forest at the base of 

 Doi Suthep as high as 1,500 feet (whither it had accompanied grazing 

 cattle), and a small colony is resident near the Karen village on Doi 

 Ang Ka at 3,500 feet. 



This starling is a strong walker and feeds almost entirely on the 

 ground, where it collects seeds, earthworms, and other small creatures. 

 Although it is most commonly seen in pastures or among the rice 

 stubbles, it regularly appears, especially at the end of the rains, on 

 the lawns of gardens and parks. Like other mynas, it is very vocal, 

 and its calls range from loud, shrill rattles to relatively melodious 

 notes. 



The breeding season runs throughout the hot, dry season : specimens 

 with active gonads have been taken from February 19 at Pak Pan 



