ACRIDOTHERES TRISTIS 129 



Maina tristoides, Hodgs. J. A. S. Bengal, v. p. 771 (183G). 

 Pastor tristoides, id. Icora. incd. in Brit. Mus. pi. 272, figs. 1, 2. 



Adults. The narrow pointed feather-^ of the forehead and crown lilack 

 glossed with green ; cheeks, ear-coverts, uppjr neck and entire throat dusky 

 greenish black ; remainder of neck, back, scapular and upper tail-coverts 

 vinous brown ; wing more bronzy brown shadin^' into black on the 

 primaries, and with the bases of the latter, the primary coverts and the 

 under wing-coverts white, forming a large patch on the wing both above 

 and beneath ; tail greenish black with white ends to the feathers, broadest 

 on the outer ones; breast and thighs vinous brown, with the centre of 

 abdomen and the under tail-coverts white ; bare skin behind and under 

 the eyes yellow. Iris pale brown; bill, tarsi, feet and claws yellow. 

 Total length 9-3 inches, culmen 0-9, wing .j-4 and 5 1, tail 33, tarsus 1-4.5. 

 S , ? , 24. 12. 73, Pahpoon (W. Davison). 



The Common Myna is a native of Southern Asia, and has 

 been introduced into many islands of the Pacific Ocean, 

 including the Seychelles, Madagascar, Eeunion, Mauritius and 

 Eodriguez. 



Kegarding its occurrence in the Seychelles Archipelago, 

 Sir E. Newton wrote (Ibis, 18(37, p. 342) : " The commonest 

 bird in Mahe is the ' Martin ' (A. tristis), introduced from 

 Mauritius, and now nearly as abundant as it is there. It is 

 said not to thrive on all the islands." He also mentions 

 (Ibis, 1863, p. 349) seeing pairs of this species in Madagascar 

 feeding amongst herds of cattle, and were known to the 

 natives as the " Martine." Mr. Bewsher has collected speci- 

 mens for me, on Madagascar and Mauritius, which are now 

 in the British Museum, where there are also four others from 

 Reunion, and one from Rodriguez. With regard to its habits, 

 Mr. E. W. Gates writes (Faun. Brit. Ind. i. p. 538) : " Breeds 

 from March to August, constructing its nest in houses or in 

 holes of trees. The nest is an accumulation of straw, feathers, 

 and other materials, either without shape, or slightly cup- 

 shaped. At times this Myna constructs a nest in the branch 

 of a tree. The eggs, frequently five in number, measure 



(Jaimary, 190j. 9 



