THE STARLINGS OR MYNAHS. 51 



If any one is thinking of introducing Mynahs abroad, 

 I should strongly recommend this species. Its breeding 

 habits would render it easily controlled if it showed a ten- 

 dency to become too numerous in a new country, while its 

 energy in pursuing insects would make it a most useful bird. 



The Brahminy Mynah (Temenuchus fagodarum) is 

 a very pretty bird indeed. It is rather small for a Mynah, 

 being only just over eight inches long, and has a very 

 long silky crest, hanging right down to its shoulders. 

 This crest, with the whole cap is black ; the crest of the 

 upper plumage is clear pale grey, and the lower plumage 

 warm cinnamon. The pinion-quills are black, and the 

 tail is tipped with white. 



The bill is bright blue at the root, and yellow at the 

 tip : the legs and feet are also yellow. Young birds have 

 no crest, and their colours are much paler and duller than 

 those of their parents : but their dark caps make them 

 easily distinguishable from our other common small Mynah 

 next to be dealt wnth. 



This species is found all over India and Ceylon, but does 

 not ascend the hills to any height as a rule. It is found 

 in Afghanistan, but it is not certain how far it extends in 

 the other direction to the eastward of India. It is not so 

 common as the other M\Tiahs, and near Calcutta I have 

 never seen it wild, although I found it numerous enough 

 at Dehra Dun. It bears confinement well, and will learn 

 to imitate various sounds. When singing, it looks very 

 curious, with its long crest standing on end and its white- 

 tipped tail spread out. Like the Pied Mynah, it w^ould 

 be a good bird for acclimatization abroad. 



