180 MAINATUS RELIGIOSUS 



about 1"19 X 0'8(3," and are pale blue, like those of our 

 English Starling. 



Genus XIII. MAINATUS. 



Bill, and a bare lappet on each side of the crown, yellow ; nasal aperture 

 exposed, with a membrane overhanging the front part. Wings pointed. 

 Tail short and square, scarcely more than half the length of the wing. 

 Tarsi and feet yellow. 



Type. 



Mainatus, Briss. Orn. ii. p. 305 (1760) ; Rafin, Analyse, 



p. 68 (1815) M. rcligiosus. 



Gracula, Linn. S. N. i. p. 164 (1766) M. rcligiosus. 



Eulabes, Cuv. Eegne .\n. i. p. 401 (1817) 71/. intermedins. 



Maina, Hodgs. J. .\. S. Beug. v. p. 771 (1836) . . . M. intermedins. 



The genus belongs to the Indo-Malayan Region, and one species, 

 M. religiosus, has been introduced into the Island of St. Helena. 



Mainatus religiosus. 



Gracula religiosa, Linn. S. N. i. p. 104 (1766) Asia; Melliss, Ibis, 1870, 



p. 101 St. Helena. 

 Mainatus religiosus, Sharp, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 99 (1890). 



Adult. General plumage glossy greenish black, with a purple shade on 

 the crown, hind neck, mantle and chest: primary-coverts and the greater 

 part of the quills black, the latter with a white patch, formed by a portion 

 of the inner web of the first long primary, of both webs of the next four 

 quills, and outer web only of the seventh being white. " Bill orange yellow ; 

 tarsi and feet citron yellow ; lappets and cheek-spot rich yellow, the latter 

 tinged with blue at the upper edge; iris brown, the outer edge white, 

 darkly mottled" (W. V. Legge). Total length 95 inches, culinen I'Oo, 

 wing 5-6, tail 2-6, tarsus 1-15. <y , Ceylon. 



The Common Grackle is a native of India and Ceylon, 

 and has been introduced into St. Helena. 



With regard to its occurrence on St. Helena, Mr. J. C. 

 Melliss, in 1870, writes : " This bird was introduced in the 

 year 18-29 and has not multiplied to any extent: but a few 



