( 160. ) 
(684) ACRIDOTHERES TRISTIS, Common Myna. This is the only 
species we need, give a closer examination to as most of the birds, 
belonging to this family (Mynas and Starlings) are not found in the 
district. Those which visit us occasionally, seldom come into Dar- 
jeeling, and are birds which prefer to locate themselves in the plains. 
Tristis on the other hand, has made itself quite at home, here. It 
is frequently met with in Darjeeling, feeding on the roads, and 
perching on roofs of houses. These birds seem to prefer town life, 
with its hurly burly to quieter surroundings. It may be, whilst on 
the roofs, a wide sweep of country they get from these admirable 
perches, which Darjeeling offers suits their tastes better than, the 
more limited view offered from big leafy trees. However it is not 
oaly the outlook, which fascinates Mynas but owing to their omni- 
vorous appetites, chances of food are more secure. These birds, 
together with other species of Myuas, have the characteristics found 
in crows, with whom they associate freely, of congregating at fixed 
spots, a biggish tree usually ; as dusk of evening sets in and the sun 
is sinking in the west. This peculiarity is more noticeable in the 
plains, where different species of Mynas collect in much larger flocks. 
This meeting together is obviously for personal safety and perhaps 
for comparing notes of their day’s forage, of new fields discovered, 
and where dainty morsels of food are likely to be picked up, for so, 
one may judge from the continuous chatter these birds keep up 
during long summer evenings, and sometimes on wakeful moonlight 
nights ; or the small hours of the morning. At these socialistic 
meetings in the plains, doubtlessly, the common crow loses no oppor- 
tunity of acquiring information about fresh fields and ‘pastures 
new ; but it can be safely taken for granted that it does not readily 
disclose its special reserves, from our experience of this gentleman. 
At times, like the crows, Mynas hold a drum head court-martial and 
administer corporal punishment to offending members of the com- 
munity for transgressing Bird-laws. As fristis is the céommonest 
species of Mynas, here, it will not be difficult to recognise. In size 
it is 10 inches ; bill and orbits yellow ; colour, above, is dull quaker 
brown, which Linneus named tristis or “sad colour,” on the back 
and wing-coverts ; lighter in plumage beneath ; primaries black, a 
conspicuous white wing spot; tail black with the feathers tipped 
white ; glossy black on the head, neck and breast; lower parts of 
abdomen and under tail-coverts white. 
GRAKLES or HILL-MyNAs, are common caged birds, frequently 
met with outside Indian stores (shops) where it can be observed 
at leisure. In their natural state they are rarely met with in the 
district, as they, chiefly, frequent, forest and more wooded parts in 
Nepal Terai and Assam, 
/ 
