AN EXCURSION. 19 



ordinarily seen near human habitations in a semi-do- 

 mesticated state like its cousins, the salik^ and gosalik. 

 They are forest loving birds, and flocks of them may 

 be found in the wooded regions of the Nilgiris, Mysore, 

 the Ghats, Central India, Nepal, Assam, c^ancl^ extending 

 southwards to Burmah. They are not at all uncommon 

 in Lower Bengal. The jungle myna is apt to be mis- 

 taken for a Bank myna or gangsalik, but a little observa- 

 tion will shew that it differs from the latter in having 

 a small frontal crest at the base of the bill, and that 

 it has an orange yellow bill instead of a red one with a 

 yellow tip. These birds are somewhat migratory in 

 habits within a limited area ; and their migrations, like 

 those of other animals, are determined by the abundance 

 or scarcity of their food, which consists of fruits, berries 

 and insects. 



We were absorbed in observing the movements 

 of the birds : how they jostled each other, and 

 quarreled for what they might all have enjoyed in peace r 

 and we did not notice what was going on around us. 

 Places which looked perfectly deserted a quarter of an 

 hour ago were now full of life. A large number of 

 squirrels drawn from their sylvan refuges by the smell 

 of food were moving about in all directions. They 

 were very swift and shy ; so that, if we looked at any 

 one of them or moved a little, it darted away instantly 

 and ascended the nearest tree, and whisked its tail and 

 perked its ears, and stamped and chirped aloud and 

 incessantly 



