Ill 



MYNAS 



" Striped squirrels raced, the mynas perked and picked." 



The Light of Asia. 



1 The stare, that the counseylle kan bewrye." 



The Assembly of Foulis. 



" Before her goes, nodding their heads, 

 The merry minstrelsy." Ancient Mariner. 



IT seems hardly right in any way to associate mynas 

 with kites, for, in place of being carrion-fed robbers, 

 they are birds of most genteel and refined habits, and 

 it was only because my first introduction to both of 

 them was almost simultaneous with arrival in India 

 that I come to think of them together. As we get 

 to know more of the country we begin to realise that 

 there are several very distinct kinds of mynas, but 

 almost everywhere Acridotheres tristis is our first 

 familiar acquaintance among them (Plate II. 1). A 

 very creditable acquaintance he is, too, with his 

 sober dress, that in the level sunshine of mornings 

 and evenings is glorified by bronzy tints, and his 

 familiar and amusing ways. Starlings have the 



