255 



darkest on the back and wing-coverts, and lightest beneath ; 

 primaries black, with a white spot at their base, forming a con- 

 spicuous wing-spot ; tail black with a white tip, successively 

 broader from the centre pair ; lower abdomen, vent, and under 

 tail-coverts white. 



This Myna is a common permanent resident throughout the 

 district, breeding from June to August. They nest indifferently, 

 in holes, in trees or walls, in deserted crow nests, under the 

 eaves of verandahs, and occasionally, but very rarely, they build 

 a rup-shaped nest in a fork of a tree. The eggs, four or five in 

 number, are rather longish ovals in shape, of a glossy blue-green 

 color, and average 119 inches in length by about 0'86 in breadth. 



Acridotheres ginginianus, Lath. 



685. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 326 ; Butler, Guzerat ; 

 Stray Feathers, Vol. Ill, p. 494 ; Murray's Vertebrate Zoology 

 of Sind, p. 179 ; Swinhoe and Barnes, Central India ; Ibis, 

 1885, p. 128. 



THE BANK MYNA. 



Length, 8'5 ; wing, 5; tail, 3'25 ; tarsus, 1-25 ; bill at front, 

 0-85. 



Bill red, yellow at tip ; nude eye -spot reddish ; irides brown ; 

 legs yellow. 



Head with rather short occipital crest ; lores, ear-coverts, and 

 nape, glossy black ; the rest of the plumage dull cinereous 

 or inky-black, paling beneath ; wing black, with the wing-spot 

 ferruginous ; tail black, tipped dull ferruginous ; middle of abdo- 

 men, of vent, and the under tail-coverts, pale ferruginous ; the 

 frontal feathers are slightly erectile, and those on the side of 

 the head are directed towards the median line. 



The Bank Myna is very common throughout Sind and Guze- 

 rat ; it also occurs in Central India and Rajputana, but is 

 very locally distributed. It does not appear ever to have been 

 noticed in the Deccan. It is a permanent resident wherever 

 found, breeding in holes in river banks, or wells, during June 

 and July ; these holes are excavated by the birds themselves. 

 The eggs, four or five in number, are broadish ovals in shape, 

 and glossy greenish-blue in color. 



They average T05 inches in length by about 0'81 in breadth. 



Acridotheres mahrattensis, Sylces. 



6866k Butler, Deccan ; Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 412. 

 THE SOUTHERN DUSKY MYNA. 



Length, 9'5 ; wing, 5 ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 1*4 ; bill at front, 07. 



Bill orange-yellow; irides pale blue ; legs yellow. 



The whole head, small frontal crest, and ear-coverts, glossy 

 black ; the upper plumage fuscous black, or blackish-brown, with 

 a vinous tinge ; primaries black, with a white spot near their 



