I70 STARLINGS. 



borders of which alone the birds could have procured the shells and small 

 round pebbly stones employed in their decoration. The collection and trans- 

 portation of these must therefore be a task of great labour and difficulty : and, 

 as these birds feed almost entirely upon seeds and fruits, the shells and bones 

 cannot have been collected for any other purpose than ornament ; besides, it 

 is only those that have been bleached in the sun, or such as have been roasted 

 by the natives, and by this means whitened, that are made use of. 



Siih-Family II. 

 THE GRAKLES. GRACULIN/E. 



General Characteristics.— Bill more or less long, broad at the base, much com- 

 pressed on the sides, with the culmen rather curved to the tip, which is slightly 

 emarginated ; the nostrils basal, lateral, rounded, exposed, with the frontal plumes 

 advancing to or covering the opening ; the wings long, with tlie first quill short, 

 and the third and fourth the longest ; the tail short, and even or slightly graduated ; 

 the tarsi short ; the toes long and strongly scutellated. 



The true Grakles inhabit the lofty jungles of India. They are 

 generally seen in pairs, or small parties of five or six individuals, 

 frequenting the tops of the highest trees, seeking fruits, chiefly 

 berries of various kinds. They are sometimes found in newly- 

 made gardens where a few large trees are left standing, flying 

 cheerfully from tree to tree, resting a few minutes and whistling, 

 and then flying off again. Their song is rich, varied, and pleasing; 

 they have, how^ever, several harsh notes, often heard in the jungles. 



The Myna-Bird {Gj-acula religiosci) is a native of India and the Indian 

 islands, where it is highly valued for its powers of imitation ; indeed, it easily 

 learns to repeat, not only words, but whole phrases, and that with surprising 

 distinctness. Marsden says that it has the faculty of imitating human speech 

 more perfectly than any other bird. In captivity, this myna is lively, confident, 

 and docile; it isabout the size of a thrush, and lives indiscriminately on insects 

 and fruits. The jungle myna is often seen in cages in the south of India, 

 where it is very highly prized, both for its powers of song and speech. 



The Common Myna (Gracula gryllivoyd) is found throughout India, 

 extending into Assain and Burmah. It is one of the commonest birds in the 

 country, affecting towns, villages, and the neighbourhood of man rather than 

 the jungles. It roosts generally in large numbers together in some particular 

 tree in a village or cantonment, and, morning and evening, keeps up a noisy 

 chattering concert. Soon after sunrise the birds disperse, and, in parties of 

 two, four, six, or more, wing their way in different directions to their respec- 

 tive feeding-grounds ; some remain about the villages and cantonments, 

 looking out like the crows for any fragments of cooked rice that may be 

 thrown out of a house, or even entering a verandah in search of similar food. 



