46 Bird-keeping. 



insects from its master's hand. Its song was a mixture 

 of the notes of the Starling, Goldfinch, and Siskin. It 

 lived several years in captivity. 



In its wild state the Pastor appears to live princi- 

 pally upon insects, though it is fond of fruit and grain. 

 In confinement it must have a large cage, and a mixed 

 diet of animal and vegetable food, like the Starling 

 and Blackbird. 



The MlNA BIRD (Gracula religiosd). Besides the 

 true Starlings, there are a number of sub-families be- 

 longing to the great family of the Sturnidse, compris- 

 ing many foreign birds, which are very easily kept in 

 captivity and are very docile and amusing, generally 

 very clever, lively birds, capable of learning many ac- 

 complishments, some rivalling the Starling in speaking. 

 The Mina, Mynah, or Mino Bird (for its name is vari- 

 ously spelt) may be called " Voiseau parletw par excel- 

 lence" It is very common in India and the Indian 

 islands, and is said to surpass the Grey Parrot in its 

 powers of imitating the human voice. It is often kept 

 in a cage in India, and of late years has been brought 

 to England. It is about the size of a Blackbird, with 

 a deep velvet-like plumage, glossy with metallic lustre, 

 tinged with purple and bronze green. A pure white 

 stripe runs across the pen-feathers of the wing. The 

 bill and feet are yellow, and it has two yellow wattles 

 at the back of the head. It should have a mixed diet 

 of berries, fruit, and insects ; it is said to be very fond 



