54 GAKDEN AND^ AVIARY BIRDS. 



seen it wild in the former islands, where I noticed it had 

 a direct heavy flight ; but I only saw one pair. It is a 

 great deal better known as a captive, and the speaking 

 powers of a really good specimen must be heard to be 

 appreciated. At the same time, really perfect talkers 

 seem to be rare ; I have only met with few, although 

 accomplished coughers, spitters, etc., are only too common ! 

 My friend, the late 'Mr. W. Rutledge, of Calcutta, had 

 a most admirable specimen, whose favourite remark 

 was "Not a drop to save my soul!" uttered with an 

 unctuous fervour which ought to have been worth pounds 

 to a Home for Inebriates. And there was another at the 

 home Zoo one year, on deposit, which frequently enquired, 

 " What are you talking about " in a very peremptory, 

 not to say vulgar, manner. But these appeared to me 

 to be brilliant exceptions, and unless this Mynah learns 

 Hindustani much more easily than English, I do not 

 quite understand the foundation for his reputation. 

 There is, however, a better bird than either of the above 

 at the London Zoo at present. 



People who would keep this species as a cage-bird 

 should remember, first, to get a young one, which may be 

 easily selected by the signs above given ; secondly, to 

 give it a big cage; and thirdly, after it has got its full 

 plumage and grown its wattles or lappets, not to give 

 it much rich food like bread-and-milk and satoo, but to 

 feed it mostly on fruit. Fruit-eating birds like these 

 have gross appetites, and too nourishing a diet is 

 likely to give them fits by inducing a plethoric habit of 

 body. 



