MINO BIRD. — Gracula mitsica. 



as if the lines liad been splashed at random upon the feathers, and then rubbed in and 

 polished. There are several species of Juida, some inhabiting Australia, and others being 

 found in India and Africa. They live in flocks, often attacking the gardens and making 

 great havoc among the fruit. They also are in the habit of perching upon the backs of 

 cattle for the sake of catching the various insects which are always to be found upon a 

 cow's back. Their nest is usually made in the clefts of rocks. 



The Graculinre, or Grakles, form the next group of birds. Formerly a veiy large 

 number of species were ranked among the members of this group, but the naturalists of 

 the present day have restricted the appellation to comparatively few birds. In all the 

 species the bill is broad at the base, with the ridge of the upper mandible slightly curved, 

 and there is a little notch near the extremity. 



The MiNO Bird is very common in many parts of India and the Indian islands, where 

 it is frequently captured and domesticated. 



It is a bright and lively little bird, wonderfully intelligent, and even conceiving 

 so great an aflection for its master, that it is permitted to fly about at will. ]\Iany 

 amusing tricks are often taught to the Mino Bird, and it possesses a talent for talking 

 equal to that enjoyed by the magpie, the raven, the starling, or the parrot. So admirable 

 a conversationalist is the Mino Bird that some writers who have had personal experience 

 of its capabilities, think that it surpasses even the grey parrot in its powers of imitating 

 the human voice. It will repeat many words with extraordinary accuracy, and some 

 specimens have learned phrases and sentences of considerable length. 



The colour of the jNIino Bird is a deep velvet-like black, with the exception of a white 

 mark on the base of the quill-feathers of the wing. Around the base of the beak and the 

 forehead tlie feathers are extremely short and have a velvety sensation to the touch. The 

 bill and the feet are yellow, and on the back of the head are two wattles of a bright yellow 

 colour. The food of this bird consists chiefly of berries, fruits, and insects, and in 

 dimensions it is about equal to a common thrush. By the Javanese it is known by 

 the titles of Beo and Mencho, and the Sumatraus call it Teeong. 



