MYNAS 27 



in the corner of the garden, and, not unreasonably, 

 thought that they were entitled to the run of the 

 turf. Their extreme excitability and overflowing 

 energy make them rather apt to quarrel among 

 themselves, and one sometimes sees an otherwise 

 most affectionate couple squabbling fiercely over the 

 possession of a worm destined to be food for their 

 nestlings. Their scuffles often take place in odd 

 places, and I have seen a party of them having a free 

 fight on the body of a cow, who lay, placidly and 

 indifferently chewing the cud, quite undisturbed by 

 their struggles and cries. They love the company of 

 cattle, and, along with common white egrets, are 

 constantly to be seen following the cows and 

 buffaloes, who, in pushing their way along through 

 the grass, dislodge clouds of insects from their lurking 

 places in it. Whilst questing for worms and insects 

 in the grass they pace quietly along, spying warily 

 about, turning over all the heaps of cow-dung to 

 have a look beneath them, and every now and then, 

 making a sudden dash at some desirable object at a 

 little distance. 



Few birds venture to stand up to a myna, and 

 there are very few that a myna will hesitate to 

 assault. Even crows are afraid of them, although 

 quite ready to torment them when a chance of 

 doing so advantageously happens to turn up. One 

 may often see a crow teasing a myna who is busy 

 on the grass near the foot of a tree, dodging round 



