216 BULLETIN 197, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



effect that its introduction was deliberate. * * ♦ The increase of this 

 species has not been as spectacular as that of the House Swallow [sparrow], but 

 within the last few years it has been steady and they are gradually spreading 

 from Vancouver into the rural districts. In common with the House Sparrow, 

 they frequent the city streets in order to feed on the undigested grain in horse- 

 droppings. The curtailment of this food supply that followed the change from 

 horse-traflSc to motor-traflBc no doubt served to check their increase as it has also 

 reduced the Sparrow population. 



Referring to tlie increase in the numbers of the crested mynah in 

 Vancouver, William N. Kelly (1927) says that he "first observed them 

 early in 1909 at their roosting place on the building at the southwest 

 corner of Cordover and Carrall Streets. There were not many in 

 the colony at that time, possibly a few hundreds. Now their main 

 roosting territory takes in about four city blocks adjacent to the 

 original rookery, and they have also been observed congregating in 

 smaller bands to roost in the East End of the city, the West End, and 

 extending to New Westminster. It is estimated by some that the 

 colony now exceeds 20,000 birds. They have also been reported from 

 Bellingham, Washington." 



The above estimate seems high, but it evidently refers to the concen- 

 tration in winter roosts; j^robably less than half of that number 

 remain to nest within the city. In considering the chances of a 

 widespread invasion of the crested mynah into the United States, it 

 must be remembered that its natural habitat is in the comparatively 

 warm climate of central and southern China, and that the countries 

 into which it has been introduced and has succeeded in raising more 

 than one brood a year, such as the Philippines, are tropical or semi- 

 tropical. Should it become established in California, it might spread 

 over the warmer portions of this country. But it probably would 

 not thrive in the colder climate of our Northern States, as has the 

 European starling which came from colder climate. 



F. W. Cook reported to Scheffer and Cottara (1935) that on August 

 13, 1929, he observed a party of 12 mynahs about a mile from the head 

 of Lake Washington on Sammamish River, Wash., though they were 

 not seen again. And in February 1924 one was seen in Portland, 

 Oreg., as recorded by AVood (1924) and others. 



Nesting.— Lq. Touche (192G) says of the nesting habits of the crested 

 mynah in China : "The breeding-season is from April onwards, and 

 I have taken hard-set eggs on the 29th of May. There are probably 

 two broods, as in Kwangtung the latest date given by Vaughan and 

 Jones for fresh eggs is the 4tli of July. These authors give the bird 

 as double-brooded for the majority. All kinds of situations are 

 taken for the nest: holes in buildings, hollow trees, IMagpies' nests, 

 and often, according to the same authors, Kingfishers' nests are fa- 

 vourite sites. The materials consist of all kinds of rubbish, and every 

 nest invariably contains a snake slough." 



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