THE STARLINGS OR MYNAHS. 51 



The Pied Mynah in captivity is apt to turn more or 

 less black on the light parts of its plumage. I once saw 

 in a cage one of these birds which was pale drab all over 

 the parts which should have been black, the rest with 

 the beak, &c., remaining normal. In the Indian Museum, 

 too, are two skins of the species, one of which is mostly 

 white, and the other entirely so. 



If any one is thinking of introducing Mynahs abroad, 

 I should strongly recommend this species. Its breeding 

 habits would render it easily controlled if it showed 

 a tendency to become too numerous in a new country, 

 while its energy in pursuing insects would make it a 

 most useful bird. 



THE BRAHMINY MYNAH (Temenuchus pagodarum) is 

 a very pretty bird indeed. It is rather small for a Mynah, 

 being only just over eight inches long, and has a very 

 long silky crest, hanging right down to its shoulders. 

 This crest, with the whole cap is black ; the crest 

 -of the upper plumage is clear pale grey, and the lower 

 plumage warm cinnamon. The pinion-quills are black, 

 and the tail is tipped with white. 



The bill is bright blue at the root, and yellow at the 

 tip : the legs and feet are also yellow. Young birds have 

 no crest, and their colours are much paler and duller than 

 those of their parents : but their dark caps make them 

 easily distinguishable from our other common small 

 Mynah next to be dealt with. 



This species is found all over India and Ceylon, but does 

 not ascend the hills to any height as a rule. It is found 

 in Afghanistan, but it is not certain how far it extends in 



