Birds in and about the Station. 



Birds in and about the Station. 



By Captain G. A. Pekreau, F.Z.S. 

 (Continued from page 257). 



Mynahs, etc : We do not get any of the Talking 

 Mynahs or Grackles, but it may not be out of place to re- 

 mark that more Mynahs are killed by over -feeding in captiv- 

 ity than by anything else. Gates states that they feed entirely 

 on fruit, never descending to the ground. 



The Eosy Starling or Pastor (Pastor roseus) is a well 

 known bird at home, though probably seldom seen in full 

 colour as rose is a colour that departs from birds in captivity. 

 There have been exceptions; Mr. Teschemaker had a Pink- 

 In'OAved Rose-finch which regained its colour, and I myself 

 havf! had Redpolls which did the same; they were kept ^n 

 an exposed outdoor aviary all the year round. As a station 

 bird the Rosy Pastor is rather a fraud, as I have only seen it 

 twice passing through in some numbers early in May during 

 a period of twelve years. 



Small flocks of Starlings pass just below the Station 

 in spring and autumn, probably Sturniis menzhieri, but they 

 may be 8. hiimii or porphyrovotns or all three. Anyhow 

 thej' are not very interesting. 



The Black-headed Mynah (Tonenuchus pagodarum) is 

 a no I uncommon summer visitor. A few years ago it was 

 extremely rare — I had been some years in the Station before 

 seeing one at all. Now, there are four small colonies fairly 

 close, two of which only started last year. It is evidently a 

 bird that does not mean to become extinct and a good thing, 

 too. It breeds in May and June, Avith us I do not think 

 it attempts anything later. The nest and eggs are of starling 

 type, as might be expected. It is chiefly a ground feeder^ 

 It i, such a handsome bird and at the same time such a 

 conimo:\ one, that I wonder it is not more often seen at home. 

 The beak alone * would attract attention, being bright blue 

 at the base, then greenish with a yellow tip. The iris is 

 greenish white and the legs bright yellow. I give Gates' 

 description in full. 



"'Head fjoiij forehead to najje with crest black; sides of the 

 head, side and bacdc of tlii neck, and the whole of the lower 



