190 



The Common Myna (Aeridotheres tristis — the Starling of 

 Hindustan — next demands our attention. He is perhaps the 

 commonest bird in India. His general hue is reddish brown, 

 the head, neck, and breast are black. In the wing there is a 

 broad white bar exceedingly conspicuous during flight. The 

 bill, the legs, and a bare patch of skin about the eyes ate bright 

 mustard yellow. He is somewhat bigger than Slurntts vulgaris. 

 His normal diet consists of grasshoppers and other insects; hence 

 he often struts sedately along beside grazing cattle, snatching up 

 the insects as they hop out of the quadrupeds' way. The Myna, 

 like the Sparrow, has attached himself to man and has in con- 

 sequence become omnivorous. 



It nestles in a hole in a tree or building, and when no 

 suitable cavity is available it will build on a ledge in a verandah. 

 The nest partakes of the nature of a rag and bone shop, being 

 made up of sticks, straws, grass, and rags bundled pele mile into 

 the cavity or on to the ledge as the case may be. 



Mynas of this species are very frequently kept as pets by 

 natives of India. A tame Myna will follow its master about in 

 dog-like fashion. This species can be taught to talk, but it is 

 not as a rule an apt pupil. I have never succeeded in teaching 

 an Acridothetes to say anything, nor have I ever heard one talk. 

 The best performers in this respect are the various species of 

 Hill- Mynas (Eulabes). 



Very like the Common Myna in appearance is the Jungle 

 Myna (sEUtiopsai fuscus). It is distinguishable by a small tuft of 

 feathers in front of the head, etc., having no yellow patch round 

 the eye. Oates states that it is found all over India in hills and 

 well-wooded parts of the country. I have met with it only in the 

 Hills. It is common both in the Himalayas and the Nilgiris. 

 frequently associating with A cridotheres tristis. During the seven 

 years I have spent in the plains of Northern and Southern India 

 I have not seen a single sEthiopsai. 



A cridotheres ginginieitus — the Bank Myna — has the appear- 

 ance of being a colour variation of the Common Myna. It is 

 slat}' grey, where A. tiistis is reddish brown, and buff where the 

 common form is white. The patch of bare skin round about the 

 eye is bright red, I might almost say crimson. This species is 



