1 28 THE MYNAS. 



walk less on the ground, for they live chiefly on fruit. 

 The commonest is the Brahminy Myna (Temenuchus 

 pagodarum), a good name, for it is a high-caste bird. 

 It is smaller than a Starling, but looks more stoutly 

 built, being fuller about the neck and shorter in the 

 tail. Its back and wings are ashy-brown, while the 

 throat, breast, and all the underparts are of a soft, 

 reddish-fawn, or terra-cotta colour. On its head it 

 has a crest of long, narrow, silky black feathers, 

 which lie gracefully on the back of its neck, except 

 when it raises them to express surprise. Its beak is 

 blue at the base and yellow at the point. With this 

 exception there is nothing gaudy about the bird, and 

 you almost need to have it in your hand to know 

 what a beauty it is. The way in which the soft 

 colours pass into each other and are shaded off on the 

 margins of the wings and tail cannot be told in 

 words. The Brahminy Myna is a regular frequenter 

 of the Coral Tree and the Silk-cotton Tree when in 

 flower, and of the Banian and Peepul when in fruit. 

 It is not uncommon in parts of Bombay. It breeds, 

 like its relations, in holes, and lays blue eggs. There 

 are usually some at the Crawford Market, for it is a 

 favourite cage-bird. It has a sweet voice and a little 

 song. 



The Grey-headed Myna (Temenuchus malabaricus) 

 is very like the Brahminy, but all its colours are 

 paler and it has no black on the head. Its crest is 

 striped grey and white. I do not think it ever breeds 

 in this part of the country, but in the cold season, 

 or just after the rains, it haunts the Banian trees in 

 little flocks, picking holes in the bright red fruit. It 

 is a quiet bird, and you must look for it if you wish 



