Birds. 9587 



nest in a tree, but this must be when the bird is a long way off any 

 human habitation, as it never does so if there is any other place at 

 hand. I have frequently seen the minah at work in a crow's or kite's 

 nest, but this was not putting sticks there, it was taking them away. 



The minah is met witli strutting about in pairs, far away in the 

 jungle, forty miles off any house or hut, but even then it allows you to 

 approach witliin five yards. 



I must say I like the minah ; he is a jolly, noisy, chattering sort of 

 fellow, never seems to lose his spirits on the dullest of rainy days or 

 the hottest of evenings, and sometimes he rewards one with some really 

 very rich notes, just to show what he could do if he had not studied 

 thorough bass so much. He does no harm, and places much con- 

 fidence in man ; it is a great shame to shoot him, for after all he is 

 not very good eating : the only time he is the least offensive is when 

 he fills up your fire-place with two or three basket-loads of small sticks, 

 which have fallen down the chimney in his clumsy attempts at building 

 his nest, and this small fault of his is easily remedied by nailing 

 perforated tin plates over the smoke-vents. 



Although the minah has his own domestic quarrels, he lives very 

 peaceably with other birds ; crows, starlings, pied minahs and the 

 large black flycatcher often join his family parties when hunting in the 

 grass for insects, without any misunderstanding taking place. 



T. P. NORGATE. 

 Sealkote, Punjaub, India, March 13, 1865. 



Ornithological Notes from Shetland. By H. L. Saxby, M.D. 



(Continued from page 9572). 



March, 1865. 



Sky Lark. — Sky larks have been unusually scarce during the winter, 

 but large numbers began to return early this mouth ; they are now 

 extremely abundant. Their song commenced on the 7th, a cold rainy 

 day with N.W. wind, and it has since been constantly heard. 



Common Bunting. — Common buntings also reappeared early in the 

 month, joining with those flocks which had remained here throughout 

 the winter. With the exception of the hw which remain to breed, 

 they will probably continue in this neighbourhood for at least another 

 month. 



