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Distribution. — South and central 

 China. A very common resident in 

 the Yangtse Valley. 



Nest and Eggs. — The Mynah breeds 

 in holes in trees and old wall, as well 

 as under the eaves of houses. Our 

 local birds show decided preference for 

 the ruins of old pagodas, as their nest- 

 ing sights, and large numbers seem to 

 nest in one ruin, frequently with the 

 Black-eared Kites, and even sometimes 

 with some of the Falcons. 



The nest is a regular rubbish heap of 

 straw, leaves, feathers, snake sloughs, 

 dry grass, and similar materials. The 

 eggs are a pale greenish blue. 



Notes. — This well known bird is very 

 sociable in its habits, and can usually 

 be seen feeding in small flocks 

 throughout the winter. The Chinese 

 value it as a cage bird. It can be 

 taught to speak certain words. 



THE GEAY STAELING. 



SPODIOPSAR CINEEACEUS (tEMM.) 

 Description. — Length nine inches. 

 Bill black at the tip, orange at the 

 base. Tarsus orange. 



Head and neck with greenish 

 irridescence ; forehead and auriculars 

 heavily streaked with white. Back 

 brownish gray, breast darker gray, 

 abdomen lighter gray, shading 

 to white on the lower tail coverts, 

 and the under sides of the tail 

 feathers. Rump white. Tail and 

 wings above brownish gray, with the 

 outer edges of the principal feathers 

 white. 



Females are much like the males, 

 though there seems to be less irridesc- 

 ence in the black parts. However, 



