CRESTED MYNAH 221 



little occupied by the birds each year until early winter, when they begin to 

 assemble at evening in large numbers. Almost from the earliest recalled time 

 of the arrival of the mynas, their noisy roosts have been associated with the 

 Christmas season, and the birds have been known locally as "Christmas 

 birds." * * * 



First arrivals at the roost were noted between 3 and 4 : 30 p. m., and from 

 that time until nearly dark the mynas drifted in by twos, threes, half dozens, 

 or as many as 15 to 20 in a flock. Apparently the larger groups had assembled 

 en route. Most of the birds came down one street, from the east, flying re- 

 markably low, scarcely over the tops of the cars, and swung up steeply to perch 

 about the eaves and cornices of the buildings, where new arrivals joined in 

 the noisy chatter of greeting from those earlier on the roost. After a time 

 some would fly to the ground or pavement in search of bits of food. * * * 

 In the morning the mynas left the roost as soon as it was fully light and scat- 

 tered to feed. In a walk of 3 miles eastward into the suburbs, Scheffer and 

 Gumming observed the birds singly or by twos and threes on small trees or on 

 house roofs in the residential district. 



Voice. — The same authors say : "Scheffer finds the whistling notes 

 always cheerful, in the nesting period even quite musical. Several 

 calls may be recognized, the longer ones including a rolling trill, and 

 all are distinguishable from the songs of our native birds by their 

 peculiar 'foreign accent.' At roosting time in the winter season there 

 is more or less chatter from flocking numbers. In his acquaintance 

 with these introduced birds, Scheffer has noted no calls in imitation of 

 native species. In its own habitat the myna is sometimes credited 

 with being a mocker." 



La Touche (1926) says that the Chinese bird is a good talker: "Its 

 voice is loud, but often musical and always cheery, and it has a 

 pleasant song mixed with a variety of hard, throaty. Starling notes." 



Field marks. — The crested mynah is a well-marked bird, a short, 

 chunky, glossy black bird, about the size of a robin ; it has a prominent 

 crest hanging forward over its yellow bill, a short tail with narrow 

 white tips, and a large white patch in the wing, most conspicuous in 

 flight. It has a somewhat labored, straightaway flight, ]jy which it can 

 be distinguished at a distance from a robin or a Brewer's blackbird. On 

 the ground it usually walks instead of hopping. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Contributed by Bernard William Tucker 



Rcmge. — South China from south Yunnan to the Yangtse Valley 

 inclusive. Reaching in Shensi to the Hanchong-fu Valley. Intro- 

 duced in the Philippines. As an introduced bird in North America, 

 established in the district of Vancouver, British Columbia; described 

 in 1921 as extending perhaps 20 miles east and west and about the 

 same distance north and south, comprising North Vancouver, Sea 



