of the Calcutta District. 47 



May and June, either in natural holes in trees or in those 

 made by small Woodpeckers and Barbets ; at other times of 

 the year they assemble in small flocks. 



24. AcRiDOTHEREs TRisTis. (Common Mynah.) 



The Common Mynah is extremely common all over the 

 district; although usually found more abundantly near houses, 

 it is not uncommon at a distance from habitations. There 

 are two broods in the year, the first eggs being laid in April 

 and May, and the second brood being usually hatched in July. 

 Cast skins of snakes are very often used in the construction 

 of the nest. After a flight of locusts these birds, as well as 

 the next, feed greedily on the insects. In the winter they 

 roost together in immense numbers. 



25. Sturnopastor contra. (Pied Starling.) 



A very common resident species and universally distributed. 

 As early as the middle of February I have seen them busily 

 inspecting their future nesting-places ; but they usually 

 begin building their huge untidy nests — often several in one 

 tree — in April, and they generally have young nearly ready 

 to leave the nest by the end of May. I have sometimes taken 

 their eggs in June. The Shikra [Astur badius) often takes 

 the young birds out of their nests to feed on them, and though, 

 during the proceedings, the old birds make a great noise, they 

 are afraid to attack and drive away the Hawk. 



26. SiPHiA ALBiciLLA. (Rcd-brcasted Flycatcher.) 



A common winter visitor and generally distributed, but 

 always found solitary. 



27. Stoparola melanops. (Verditer Flycatcher.) 



Not uncommon as a cold-weather visitor, and universally 

 distributed, but always found singly. 



A white-breasted Blue Flycatcher which I have often seen 

 in the cold season, but of which I have never procured a 

 specimen, must be either Cyornis superciliaris or C. astigma. 



28. Terpsiphone paradisi. (Paradise Flycatcher.) 

 Plentiful in the wooded parts of the country, and in gardens 



and orchards, arriving in April and remaining until the middle 



