

IQI 



confined to the northern parts of India. It is not so ond of 

 human habitation as is the Common Myna, and breeds in colonies 

 in holes in river banks or wells. Hence its various names — Bank 

 Myna, Well Myna, and River Myna. Like the Common Myna, 

 in company with which it is often found, it feeds in flocks on 

 the ground. 



Another familiar Myna is the pretty little Brahmany or 

 Black -headed Myna (Temcnuchus pagoda? Jtnt). Oates states that 

 this species is distributed over " the whole of India proper as far 

 east as the longitude of Calcutta." This statement is not correct. 

 During the twenty-six months I spent at Lahore I did not see a 

 single Black-headed Myna. I do not think it is found in the 

 western portions of the Punjab. Tememtchus pagodanim is a 

 dapper little bird. Some people consider it very beautiful, but 

 in my opinion its appearance is spoiled by its thick neck. It has 

 a black crest which is rarely, if ever, erected, but hangs down the 

 bird's neck like a pig-tail. The general hue of the plumage is 

 grey, becoming buff on the breast and sides of the head. It is 

 less of a ground feeder than the various A cridotheres. The nest 

 is an evil-smelling conglomeration of rubbish, deposited in a hole 

 in a tree or building. I find in my notes the following record : 

 " A pair of these birds has just successfully reared up a family in 

 rather a curious place in the Fort (at Madras), namely, in a hole 

 through one of the cornices of the church spire, made for the 

 passage of the lightning conductor. It was amusing to watch 

 the parents squeeze through the narrow aperture with grubs for 

 their chicks." 



The Pied Myna or Pied Starling {Stumopastoi- contra'), as 

 Jerdon calls him, is abundant throughout the United Provinces, 

 Bengal and Assam. As its name implies it is a black bird with 

 considerable leaven of white. The cheeks, rump, and lower 

 parts are white, and there is much white in the tail. The orbital 

 skin is yellow as is the basal portion of the bill. This bird hunts 

 in flocks and is usually found in company with the Common and 

 Bank Mynas. It loves the haunts of man. Unlike the other 

 Starlings I have described it does not nest in holes. The nursery 

 is a shapeless mass of straw, rags, paper, grass, etc., lined with 

 feathers. The entrance is effected at the side. Jewe writes : " If 



