46 THE BIRDS OF CALCUTTA. 



convenience ; for from their size one would think that he 

 would do better to stow them astern like the paddy-bird 

 -and other waders. The Mynah, like most of the birds I 

 have dealt with, goes in for equality between the sexes in 

 the matter of dress. You can only tell a hen Mynah by her 

 slightly smaller form, and by her exemption from 

 the amorous fits which impel her spouse to now and then 

 puff himself out and bow grotesquely for her edification, 

 meanwhile emitting various gurglings, presumably meant 

 to please her ear; the result being charmingly uncertain, 

 for with Mynahs as with men apparently 



A glance of despair is no guide, 



It may have its ridiculous side, 



It may draw you a tear, 



Or a box on the ear, 



You can never be sure till you've tried. 

 At least I judge this to be the case from having seen a 

 Mynah pecked by his spouse for showing off, and also the 

 lady become suddenly kind for the same reason apparently. 

 The gentler sex in Mynahs have no particular reason to 

 make themselves too cheap, for I have observed no less 

 than three cocks bowing and scraping after one hen, and 

 doubtless amatory rivalry will often account for the sa- 

 vage contests in which one sometimes sees Mynahs indulge. 

 In other cases the possession of an eligible nesting site will 

 furnish a reason, for, like other birds that nest in holes, the 

 Mynah is sometimes hard put to ic for house-room. I 

 remember once seeing a mynah-fight in which two, no 

 doubt the heads of families, lay clenched as to their feet 

 upon the ground, while what were no doubt their wives 



