384 STUKNID^E. 



size and shape with this latter ; fine twigs, dry grass, and feathers 

 are the materials most commonly used, the feathers being chiefly 

 gathered together to form a bed for the eggs ; but moss, moss and 

 fern roots, flocks of wool, lichen, and down may often be found in 

 greater or less quantities intermingled with the grass and straw 

 which forms the main body, or with the feathers that constitute 

 the lining, of the nest. I have never found more than five eggs, 

 but Miss Cockburn says that they sometimes lay six. 



From Murree, Colonel C. H. T. Marshall writes : " This Myiia, 

 which takes the place of A. tristis in the higher hills, breeds always 

 in holes in trees. We found five or six nests in June and early in 

 July." 



They breed near Solan, below Kussowlee, and close to Jerripani, 

 Captain Hutton's place below Mussoorie, in both which localities I 

 have taken their nests myself. 



Captain Hutton remarks : " This is a summer visitant in the 

 hills, and is common at Mussoorie during that season ; but it does 

 not appear to visit Simla, although it is to be found in some of the 

 valleys below it to the south. It breeds at Mussoorie in May and 

 June, selecting holes in the forest trees, generally large oaks, which 

 it lines with dry grass and feathers. The eggs are from three to 

 five, of a pale greenish blue, shape ordinary, but somewhat inclined 

 to taper to the smaller end. This species usually arrives from the 

 valleys of the Dhoon about the middle of March ; and, until they 

 begin to sit on their eggs, they congregate every morning and 

 evening into small flocks, and roost together in trees near houses ; 

 in the morning they separate for the day into pairs, and proceed 

 with the building of nests or laying of eggs. After the young are 

 hatched and well able to fly, all betake themselves to the Dhoon in 

 July." 



In Kumaon I found them breeding near the Ramghur Iron- 

 works, and, writing from Nynee Tal, Colonel Gr. F. L. Marshall 

 says that they " breed very commonly at Bheera Tal (4000 feet), 

 but I have not noticed them at Nynee Tal. I took a great many 

 eggs ; they were all laid in holes in rotten trees at a height of 2 to 

 8 feet from the ground ; they average much smaller than the eggs 

 of A. tristis, but are similar in colour." 



Writing from Nepal, Dr. Scully says : " This species is common 

 and a permanent resident in the Valley of Nepal, but does not occur 

 in such great numbers as A. tristis. It is also found in tolerable 

 abundance in the Nawakot district and the Hetoura Dun in winter. 

 It breeds in the Valley in May and June, laying in holes in trees 

 or walls ; the eggs are very like those of A. tristis, but smaller 

 not so broad. I noticed on two or three occasions an albino of 

 this species, which was greatly persecuted by the Crows." 



Mr. G. Vidal remarks of this bird in the South Konkan : 

 " Exceedingly common. Breeds in May. The irides of all I have 

 seen were pale slate-blue." 



" In the Nilgiris," writes Mr. Wait, " the Jungle Myna's eggs 

 may be found at any time from the end of February to the beginning 



