PASSERINE BIRDS OF CEYLON. 109 



with pale buff ; after the first autumn moult the wings and 

 tail become black, a patch of black appears on the upper breast, 

 and the rosy tinge begins to appear on the back, breast, and 

 abdomen ; the full adult plumage does not appear to be 

 assumed until the end of the second autumn. 



Bill pinkish flesh-colour, the ridge brown ; iris brown ; 

 legs and feet yellowish-brown. 



Dimensions rather variable: length about 9; wing 5" 2; 

 taU 3 ; tarsus 1'25 ; bill from gape 1 ' 15. 



Distribution. — A rather uncertain migrant. It appears to 

 breed in the Balkan Peninsula, in Western Asia from Turkestan 

 to Asia Minor, migrating rather irregularly over a great part 

 of Europe and Asia as far east and south as India and 

 Cej'lon. 



Habits. — Occasionally a large flock visits the west and 

 north of the Island ; one such flock came to Puttalam for 

 some weeks at the end of 1917. During their stay they 

 frequent open grassy spaces and fields, feeding on grass 

 seeds, grain, and insects. The whole flock roosts together in 

 trees. The birds are generally extremely wary and difficult to 

 approach. 



Temenuchus pagodarum. 



The Brahminy Mynah. 



Temenuchus pagodarum COates. Vol. T., p. 533) ; Sturnia. 

 pagodarum (Legge, p. 677). 



Description. — Forehead, crown, and the long crest on the 

 nape glossy black ; face, neck all round, and lower parts 

 down to the abdomen reddish-buff, the feathers of the neck, 

 throat, and breast elongated and with paler centres ; upper 

 plumage from the neck, wing coverts, and inner wing quills 

 brownish-gray ; primary quills rusty-black ; tail brown with 

 broad white tips, except the middle pair of feathers, which are 

 dove gray shaded with brown ; vent, thighs, and under tail 

 coverts pearly-white. 



Young birds have no crest, the cap of the head is dark brown, 

 upper plumage ashy-brown, lower parts pale buff with a 

 grayish tinge. The adult plumage is gradually assumed. 



